Serpent Mound

Pre- Research


The Serpent Mound is the piece I found most interesting while flipping through the book. My first thoughts about this was who built this, and why did they build it. The lines created by the mound caught my eye and made me wonder how exactly it was made with such detail that can only be truly seen from high above. I wondered if this was a design made in respect for the dead or a monument to honor the gods. It also made me question if it was a burial mound like the less ornate mounds of Cahokia.

Research


After researching the mound further in the Art Beyond the West book I discovered that the Serpent mound isn't a burial mound but an effigy mount representing the importance of animals in Adena rituals. The books relates it to the Nazca Geoglyphs and it is believed that it was built to be viewed by the gods. The serpent is in an unraveling coil design and appears to be swallowing a large egg. It was built nearing the end of the Hopewell period (about 1070 CE). This is one of the finest examples of a mound effigy in the Mid-West.

Post Research

My reaction after completing my research of the Serpent Mound still remains that of amazement. The research brought clarification as to what the mound was built for and its representation's significance. I am surprised to find that it is located in Ohio and that it is such a grand example of a mound effigy. I now feel that this work is much more important than I had originally thought.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/billy_liar/1085042306/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Information from: Art Beyond the West  by Michael Kampen O'Riley 
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/sw16/index.shtml


mpen O'Riley

Kunz Axe

Pre-Research

As I flipped through the Art Beyond the West book for class this Kunz Axe really caught my eye. Instantly I was intrigued and wondered if it was some sort of spirit or ancestor pendant like that of the Maori and their Hei tiki pendants. Its rough expression brought questions to my mind. What did it stand for? What purpose did it have? What is it made out of? Stone or Jade? Its very geometric shapes puzzled me as it clearly had facial features and a curling mouth.

Research

Further reading from the Art Beyond the West book gave me insight into this curious figurine. The Kunz Axe was made by the Olmec culture around 1000 BCE and carved out of jade. It is described as a "howling infant with feline eyes and mouth." The book refers to it as a were-jaguar. These pendants of hybrid creatures are said to have maybe represented spirits known by the Olmec's, some sort of lineage sign, or even shamans (or the equivalent in Olmec culture) who could be transformed into these different beasts like that of the Indians who wore coyote fur and were said to be able to transform in said animal for fast travel as a medicine man. Also it is said that these could appear to be apart of a writing system by using these figurines as forms of pictographs.

Post Research

The term "were-jaguar" in my opinion fits this piece very well as its face is contorted into a howl of yelling sort of pose and well as he slanted almond eyes that gave it a very feral look. I can understand now the slightly geometric shapes on its body if it was to be used as a pictograph in their culture. The overall "other worldly" vibe I get when looking at this jadeite carving makes me believe it is very likely these would have been used by shaman for transformation. It is also clearer to me now that this piece is made out of jade after all the other jadeite figures and pendants that I have seen.

Post by: Ashley Williams

Photo Courtesy of: http://theslideprojector.com/art9/art9lecturepresentations/art9lecture3.html

Information found in: Art Beyond the West by Michael Kampen O'Riley

The Killer Whale

Pre-Research
The Killer Whale by Bill Reid really stood out and caught my eye. The intricate carvings on the whale are very Native American in nature. The whale also has these large and jagged teeth which is not typical of an actual killer whale. The rather large fin on the back of the whale also strikes me as odd because while the back fin does stick out on a killer whale, it has been over exaggerated just as the teeth. I believe when this was constructed in 1984, it was not for any specific purpose except decoration.
Research
In actuality, The Killer Whale by Bill Reid was in fact influenced by Native American culture, Haida to be exact. Reid's family were Haida artists and his Great Uncle was the final Haida artist to work within a traditional society. Reid worked to captivate a sense of purity and still use the traditional style of Haida art with out a direct copy of it. It is said that "the traditional Haida vocabulary of curved, flowing lines and crescent-shaped forms are the individual forms of the whale's anatomy is rendered in light of."
Post Research
After my research I found that the carvings on the whale were indeed Native American. Yet they were not just Native American decoration, but actually the Haida vocabulary intertwined on the surface of the whale. It was created out of bronze as a decoration over a pool in the Vancouver Aquarium. I was surprised to find that the decorations were in fact the vocabulary of the Haida people. It is such a wonderful piece and is there not only for decoration but actually an insight to a Native American culture that we may not have known otherwise.

Information courtesy of the following link
http://www.nativeonline.com/billried.html
Picture courtesy of the following link.
http://www.thelensflare.com/imgs/killer-whale-bronze-chief-of-the-undersea-world_28210.html

Thillai Nataraj

This is the Thillai Nataraj Temple in Chidambaram, India.  This temple was created for one of the Hindu gods Shiva.  The Thillai Nataraj Temple, is located in the center of the town Chidambaram.  The temple grounds spread across 40 acres, and has been a worshiping place of Shiva since the classical period.  This temple is one of five Pancha Bootha Sthalams, the holiest Shiva temples that depict one of the five elements.  The one that this temple represents is akasha, which in the material world means the basis and essence of all living things.

Some of the cool Architecture of this temple, is that it is built on the center point of the Earth's equator.  Two of the other temples mentioned above, and this temple, are all on a straight line on the same longitudinal line.  These temples are depicted to represent the human body, the roof of this temple has 26,000 golden tiles, which ironically are the number of breathes a person has in one day.  These tiles are put in place by 72,000 nails, which is the amount of invisible ducts that carry energy to the body.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39604126@N05/6174602439/sizes/m/in/gallery-68110818@N02-72157627788372290/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thillai_Nataraja_Temple,_Chidambaram

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akasha

Post written by Matthew Spangler

Dharmaraja Ratha

“The Dharmaraja Ratha is a hindu temple from the Pallava period (mid-7^th century.)

During the Pallava dynasty, Hindu art flourished in southern India.

These works were most likely commissioned by Mamalla I.

A wonderful version of a southern-styled Hindu temple is the Dharmaraja Ratha.

Two art forms are fused in these monuments by reproducing architecture in sculpture form.

The process for carving these large architectural sculptures is similar to that developed by the sculptors of the Buddhist cave-temples, but here the rathas are masses in space not space in masses.

A ratha is a vehicle of the gods, carved from a series of boulder out-crops.

An exterior statue is a portrait of Mamalla I, posed stiffly to show authority, like a god.”

Post written by Amelia Kirby

Vaishno Devi

The temple of Vaishno Devi is placed amongst snow capped mountains in the Trikuta mountain in Jammu and Kashir, India. It is one of the most common places for people that travel to India to visit. It is said that the Goddess Vaishno speaks to her followers and once a person receives her "calling", they drop what they are doing and they march toward the temple of Vaishno Devi. Her loyal followers seem to be drawn by a supernatural occurrence and whilst climbing up to the temple they chant, "Prem se bolo, Jai Mata Di". Since this journey is scaling 5,200 feet above sea level, they have a long way to chant and reflect on themselves. 

This temple is among the snow capped mountains and yet, it is still stone washed white. It has an openness of a "courtyard" feel to it and also has a sense of protection with the center being encased. On the roof, there are the smaller box like instances and they have the typical curve of Hindu temples. The columns and the peaks on the roof are almost like they are trying to become closer to the heavens. For dropping everything and responding to a "calling" this is a beautiful place to be called to. 

[Picture from Flickr and the factual information comes from http://www.durga-puja.org/vaishnodevi-temple.html]

Post written by Kelsey Patterson

Kandarya Mahadeva

The Kendarya Mahadeva (Lord of Lords) temple, located in Khajuraho, is a beautifully designed structure that exemplifies the northern Hindu style of temple architecture. Unlike the southern temples, the northern style is much more tightly compact and in many cases more of a single structure rather than multiple structures combined to create a single complex. The design of Kendarya Mahadeva temple is an elongated double crucifix and rests on a single platform. The spires are of a design meant to resemble that of the peaks of the Himalayas, home of the Gods. Like many other temples Kendarya Mahadeva temple was originally whitewashed to further resemble the snowy peaks of the mountains but over time has weathered away to reveal the base sandstone that the temple consists of.

  The lines contained in the design of the spires is used to point upwards towards the Heavens. The compact design combined with the repetitive patterns create a sense of energy within the structure which is further strengthened by the arching spire walls. Although the northern temples are much smaller than most of the southern design, Kandarya Mahadeva appears to be much larger than it is because of its high platform and cluster of spires. The steps lead visitors into a large sanctuary containing a Shiva Lingam. The Shiva Lingam is a stone that represents the infinite nature of Shiva and is utilized for prayer and worship within the temple.  

(Image from hartjeff12, Flickr. Source of factual information Art Beyond the West second edition by Kampen O'Riley)