Art

Native American Collection
  

Native American Arts 
The extensive collection of Native American crafts at the Bennington Center for the Arts is primarily from the West.  It is, however, representative of all of the superb crafts created from the entire American continent.  There is a fine collection of Navajo weavings, beautifully displayed on the walls of the three expansive staircases. The weavings date from the 1880's to the current time, allowing the observer to compare the varying styles and locations, dates and weavers.
 
The Indian jewelry is Navajo, Hopi and Zuni.  The Center's collection includes pawn and contemporary work, with turquoise, coral, sugalite and lapis lazuli. The pueblos of New Mexico produce the mystical and mysterious pottery.  How can such exquisite bowls be created from earth, powdered stones and yucca brushes in a dung fire? The kachinas of the Hopi are carved from a single cotton wood root in a time honored tradition to represent a specific spirit important to their world.  It is ironic that as these kachinas are being carved with an unparalleled sophistication the culture which spawned them is in steep decline.

Permanent Collection