Arts as practice, not relic
The phrase “traditional arts revival” can suggest that these skills disappeared and have been rediscovered. For Apache communities the truth is more varied. In many families the work never stopped, and in others it faded and was later relearned from relatives, elders and older pieces. Today basketry, beadwork, hide work, cradleboards and related crafts are best described as living practices, with makers who adapt them for use in homes, ceremonies and the wider market. The arts differ among the Apache nations, so descriptions here are general.
Basketry
Basket making is among the best known of the Apache arts. Western Apache women are known for coiled baskets and for burden baskets, which were used for carrying and gathering and sometimes decorated with fringes and metal jingles. Jicarilla basketry is another distinctive tradition and is discussed in its own article. Makers generally work from plants such as willow, sumac and yucca, which must be gathered, prepared and handled in particular ways. The skill involves knowing where plants grow, when to harvest them and how to work them, which is why basketry depends on access to land as much as on technique. The contributions of Apache basket makers are explored in more depth elsewhere.
Water jars sealed with pitch, made by some Western Apache communities, are another example of utilitarian forms that are now also made as art.
Beadwork and hide work
Beadwork, which uses glass beads obtained through trade, decorates moccasins, bags, belts and ceremonial items. Many of the techniques and designs are passed down in families, though styles vary by community and maker. Hide tanning is the practical foundation for much of this work, and the Apache hide tanning process is an example of a skill that takes time and experience to learn. Preparing hides is laborious, which is a reason some makers use purchased leather and why teaching sessions are valuable.
Cradleboards
The cradleboard is a carrier for infants and holds particular meaning in many Apache families. A cradleboard may be made for a particular child, and some are given as gifts by relatives. They are made from a wooden frame with hide or cloth, and decoration and form differ by group and by maker. They show how an object can be both practical and symbolic, and why the method of making one is a matter of family knowledge. This article does not describe any associated ceremonial meanings.
Music and instruments
The Apache fiddle, a traditional bowed instrument made from an agave stalk and associated with Western Apache communities, is another example of an art that continues. It is discussed under Apache fiddle. Songs and instruments connected with ceremonies are not described here, as they belong to the communities that hold them.
How skills are passed on
Most teaching is informal: a young person learns by watching, helping and trying under the eye of a relative. Many communities now supplement that with workshops, school programs and cultural centers, and there is increasing interest in teaching Apache crafts to younger people who might not have a close relative to learn from. Elders often decide what can be taught outside the family and by whom.
Land, materials and cost
Revival depends on practical matters. Gathering materials needs access to places where plants grow and where harvesting is allowed. Changes in land use, drought, fire and restrictions on access can affect supply. Materials such as quality beads, hides and tools also cost money, and an intricate basket or piece of beadwork can take many hours. Makers must balance time against income, which affects who can afford to continue.
Markets and authenticity
Sales of Apache art support many families, but the market also raises questions. Imitation items made elsewhere and sold as Native-made are a persistent problem, and federal law, the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990, makes it illegal to market goods as Native-made when they are not. Buyers who want to support Apache artists can look for direct sales, tribal shops or reputable galleries, and ask about the maker. The broader context is discussed under Native American art market Apache.
Keeping up with current programs
Classes, markets and exhibitions change from year to year. Readers interested in Apache arts should check the official websites of the individual nations and their cultural centers, and treat any general description, including this one, as an introduction rather than a guide to a specific community.