About Choctaw Art

The artistic forms of the Choctaw tribe present a complete expression of living. The traditional and ancient arts and crafts that come from these Native Americans combine history, culture, spirituality and a specific viewpoint on life. Understanding the traditional art of this area also opens possibilities for understanding a complete way of life.

Geography

The Choctaw Native Americans are one of the oldest tribes living in the United States, with their basis being along Mississippi and through Oklahoma and Florida. This particular region has affected their art forms, specifically because of the materials that were used in their art. This includes the basket-weaving materials, animal representations and natural elements that are placed into the traditional art forms.

History

Most of the forms of art by the Choctaw tribe are known to be at least 4,000 years old. The craft of the different art forms was passed down through the generations in order to continue making the crafts with the best quality to them. This was important not only for art as a representation of the Native Americans but also to use with practical needs. Specifically, the older traditions combined with the Choctaw's were based around basket weaving as well as wood carvings.

The arts and crafts of the Choctaw changed when they were forced out of their homeland and onto the Trail of Tears. During this removal, the materials for the arts of the tribe also changed. This split caused beadwork and jewelry to become the more popular crafts because of the materials that were available in the new region that the Choctaw were forced to move to.

Features

The traditional basket weaving of the Choctaw is well known among the various tribes as some of the best craft. This practical application of art was used continuously among the tribes. The basket weaving was so important that there would be different types of baskets used for carrying different items. This varied from dinner baskets to knife baskets, which were made for each specific use.

Because the Choctaw lived by the Mississippi and in the Southeast, the cane that was by the rivers was used most often for the baskets. This would be chopped, then dried. Oftentimes, the cane would also be dyed with plants of different colors in order to give a different look to the baskets. When weaving these baskets, there were two major types of weaves that were used. One was with a single weave, meaning it would move in and out of the canes. The second was a double weave, which would move in for two and out for two when going across. Each type would be of differing sturdiness, making it easier to carry what was needed.

Features

In addition to the craft style of the baskets are also other traditional forms of art used for expression of the natural world and of the culture of the Choctaw. Other art forms used were sculptures and carvings.

Most of the older Choctaw sculpture is also referred to as petroglyphs because the carvings were placed into the stone surrounding the different regions. The sculptures would mainly use animals as representations to tell the myths and stories, as well as to combine moral and spiritual principles to be handed down to each generation.

The carvings of the Choctaw were usually placed into practical objects as well, such as pipes and flutes. These were typically considered sacred for specific rituals of the tribe. For instance, pipes made out of wood were made of animals, which would represent a sacred concept. These would be decorated with various objects that would represent certain things, combined with the ability to use the pipes in different ceremonies. There were also pottery and bowls that were decorated in similar ways.

Significance

With these main types of art from the Choctaw traditions are also other concepts intertwined with the making of each piece of work. At a basic level, the art was also used for practical purposes, as well as to pass down legendary stories or to use for ceremonies that were to be held in the area.

The artwork also moved beyond the practical uses and into the other areas of life. The materials that were used, both for decoration and as a main source for the art, contained a symbolic meaning to the work. For instance, the feathers in some pipes were placed to represent a symbol of power of prayer that would rise to the heavens. This was true with all of the art, representing a spiritual concept that was linked to the way of life that the Choctaw led.