The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-10
Frederick Haskin's Letter
REYIVINC INDIAN ARTS.
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its OF pottefy: san Juan. Santa
Clara, San lldefonso. Tesuaue. San
to Domingo, Cochiti, San Feline
Santa Ana. Zio. Jemez, Sandia. Is
leta. Laguna, Acoma, Zuni and
Hopi.
The exhibit room will not "a.
semble . museum with its articles
ON display, under glass, nor a conn
try fair with tables covered With
tagged wares. The Indians them
selves will be present in costume
to- display their own handiworE
That is q feature OF the competitive
regulations. The Navajo blanket
weaver must be present in native
working apparel and with his
working loom in order to enter his
exhibits. The Indian textile work
ers must wear their garments made
OF home-spun wool and native dives
and 1.-THE silversmith must bling the
tools Of his trade and must dress
in native style when he shows his
collection Of rings, bracelets and
belts. The Mescalero Apache has
ket maker must wear his custom
AIRY habit when he brings in his
collection Of baskets. Three pieces
Of pottery and a dozen baskets are
usually required for each single
exhibit.
Encouraging Indian Artists.
The Indian artists who have
come into prominence in the art
world Of late will be given an en-
portunity to display their pictures
at the fair. Prizes will be offered
for the best drawings in pencil, Den
and ink or water colors of Indian
dances. ceremonials, games or oc-
equations. Drawings Of pottery
designs will also be entered,
Prizes will be offered for these
in order to interest the school
pupils, particularly the girls, in the
study and use of the decorative art
of their own Pueblos. These de-
signs are now being widely adapted
Nby the white people for stencil dec
orations on garments and house.
hold linens.
Indian dancing is considered
among the arts of the exhibit. A
trophy will be awarded to the group
Of not less than 20 from any tribe
which performs the best and most
artistic ceremonial dance. judy
ing will be made on elaborateness
of costume and perfection OF the
music, singing and rhythm. The
dances yill be given before the
fiesta audiences as part of the
program which each year includes
several rare and beautiful aborigi-
nal dances.
Babies are to be classed with the
arts as we'll. Little bronzed boy
and girl babies between the ages OF
one \and two will be put on exhi-
bition with the best Of the pottery
and blankets. This is probably the
first better babies" contest held
among the red men OF the south
west. Indian schools, government
and sectarian, will also enter ex-
hibits of the handiwork of their
pupils. Among the miscellaneous
articles for which prizes will be
offered are beaded shirts and leg
gings. woods and yarns. ceremonial
ornaments and articles, ancient
weapons Of offense and defense
and Indian grown chilli.
The bureau Of Indian affairs OF
the United States government is
heartily endorsing the fair and is
encouraging its charges to enter
exhibits of their arts and crafts
Although the work Of the govern
ment for the Indian is primarily to
promote industrial activities such
as agriculture and stock raising,
and to educate the children, the re-
vival of the art work is approved
because it means increased iRde-
pendence of the craftsmen.
Many OF the older Indians sup
port themselves entirely by the
manufacture of baskets, pottery,
beadwork and blankets. During
the last year 36,949 Indians in the
United States produced such arti-
cles worth nearly $2,00O,O0O. With
the protection on the marketing of
the Indian products which will re-
suit from the Santa Fe fair. the In
dian will become both a better art
list and a better merchant