Well, a new exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (downtown Manhattan) soundly proves that this was the case hundreds of years back...
Everyday objects of the indigenous peoples like clothing, tools, musical instruments, pottery and utensils were all elevated to an art form.
It was almost like stepping into a world far removed from the chicanery of Wall Street (the link to the 1970 article on repaving Wall Street seems to echo even today) when I happened to visit this museum...
The exhibition aptly named 'beauty surrounds us' could not be more perfect. In this we see the American Indians of the North Pacific Coast weaving elements of art into everything that they used on a daily basis so much so that life and art and the nature that inspired most (if not all) of the art represented here seemed to unify into some kind of a transcendental trinity. I took some pictures of the show here and if ever if you are in the area, do not forget to check this place out - and an added bonus - admission is free.
Feast dish of the Nuu-chah-nulth peoples made of carved wood, circa 18th century. The central act of feasting involved host and guest sharing sustenance and embracing each other at the same time…
Painted curtain representing whale hunt, post 1870, Paint on cotton cloth
The U.S. Custom House which houses the National Museum of the American Indian is known for its elliptical rotunda with a 140 ton skylight – which I managed to capture above. It also has some monumental 8 foot murals by New York painter Reginald Marsh (1898 - 1954). The front of the building features four 15 ft stone sculptures representing Asia, America, Europe and Africa by sculptor Daniel Chester French (1850 - 1931).
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