Art n'such

Having taken a look at the online gallery at http://www.alaskaindianarts.com/
one can see that the typical works of art displayed are mostly animals done in the style of the indigenous peoples of the Alaskan and pacific region. The blending of indigenous forms with the Japanese technique of silk screening provides the best of both worlds. The use of limited print preserves the integrity of the work by avoiding the western habit of mass production. I believe all art has certain ethnographic properties because one's culture inevitably shapes one's view of the natural and physical world; that might be one of the very defining characteristics of culture is the many representations and manifestations of the human condition.

The art viewed still has that commercial appeal in that it fulfills the western buyer with that popular motif -here is a bird...here is that same bird crazy native style with swirls and archetypical designs. But it is still beautiful if not completely original in style, original in execution.

I do not believe that the artist is really attempting to produce the high art characteristic of Bernini or Rodan, but attempting to produce something visually appealing in which he is largely successful. The web gallery ends with a blerb about the proceeds going to help preserve the artistic tradition of the indigenous Alaskins'.I believe that aim, to preserve the institution that preserves the art is what is really important.