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Thursday 19 OcTOber 2023 locAl
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            Episode 69: Native Art




                                                                                                                                in to ceramic works. Local
                                                                                                                                or  native  Aruban  art  con-
                                                                                                                                sists  of  powerful  cultural
                                                                                                                                symbols  that  reflect  the
                                                                                                                                complexities  of  societies
                                                                                                                                and its spiritual connection
                                                                                                                                to their tribal cosmology.

                                                                                                                                Weburi  is  another  very  in-
                                                                                                                                teresting  place  situated
                                                                                                                                south of Piedra Plat`s Prot-
                                                                                                                                estant  Church.  This  amaz-
                                                                                                                                ing  site  might  be  a  bit
                                                                                                                                difficult  to  find  since  it  re-
                                                                                                                                moteness,  however,  once
                                                                                                                                the  entrance  is  located
                                                                                                                                and one has made it inside
                                                                                                                                the hollow rock bolder, the
                                                                                                                                mystical  drawings  are  all
                                                                                                                                over the interior walls.

                                                                                                                                Today  we  can  find  many
                                                                                                                                native  artists  who  are  re-
               This picture of Native Aruban rock art from Shabururi depicts over a dozen cotton tail rabbits representing children siting and   discovering  ancient  tech-
               following the teachings of a Shaman. This particular site lay at somewhat north–west of the town known today as Santa Cruz.  nics  that  can  be  applied
                                                                                                                                in  their  contemporary  na-
            ORANJESTAD — The aboriginal inhabitants’  spiritual, envisioning the creative process   a  bear,  walrus,  eagle,  or   tive  inspired  work.  This  is
            of the Americas art expressions had a dis-  of  their  universe.  This  form  of  artistic  ex-  people.  Some  scientists   an  ideal  and  a  very  fine
            trict cosmic vision compared to what the  pression in the Americas has been prac-      even believe that rock art   way to keep these ancient
            old world considered as art.  Significantly  ticed  over  hundred  and  even  thousands   represents  ancient  space   techniques  and  methods
            diverse  is  the  inspiration  that  motivated  of  years.  Most  expressions  were  created   travelers.           alive  and  to  incorporate
            their expressions which in most cases was  as  symbols,  such  as  rock  art  depicting                             cultural  philosophies  into
                                                                                                   On the other hand Europe-    these  forms  while  working
                                                                                                   an  style  of  art  was  based   with the same cultural ac-
                                                                                                   on  realism,  on  the  belief   countability,  a  philosophi-
                                                                                                   that  artists  had  to  care-  cal  tenet  that  transcends
                                                                                                   fully  observe  and  depict   chronology or material but
                                                                                                   what  they  saw.  European   still allows their motive and
                                                                                                   painters  and  artists  were   ambition to be shown.
                                                                                                   also  more  inclined  to  be
                                                                                                   recognized  for  their  work.   We  would  be  enchanted
                                                                                                   While aboriginal artists and   to  share  our  island  knowl-
                                                                                                   artisans were more inclined   edge, considering the sta-
                                                                                                   to  share  a  message  or  to   tus  and  value  of  Aruba’s
                                                                                                   record a historic event. Na-  archeological  and  rock
                                                                                                   tive artists were very skilled   formations  sites,  historical
                                                                                                   in  many  trends,  like  gold   natural   monuments,   is-
                                                                                                   smith,  ceramist,  weavers,   land’s  endemic  flora  and
                                                                                                   sculptors and architects.    fauna.  Advocating  for  a
                                                                                                   Art in general in the Ameri-  sustainable  waste  man-
                                                                                                   cas before European colo-    agement and mitigate the
                                                                                                   nization                     demographic  impact  on
                                                                                                                                our  natural  environment
                                                                                                   The  earliest  known  paint-  ecosystem in contrast with
                                                                                                   ing in North America is the   the  calming  effect  of  the
                                                                                                   Cooper  Bison  Skull  found   surrounding ocean or per-
                                                                                                   near  Fort  Supply,  Oklaho-  haps the priceless sound of
                                                                                                   ma,  dated  to  10,200  BCE.   silence.
                                                                                                   In Aruba we can find over
                                                                                                   300  early  rock  art  expres-  To  get  to  know  more  re-
                Some native artists take great pride in harvesting their own materials, such as clay, earth   sions  left  behind  by  our   garding  Aruba  and  its
               pigments, or vegetal fibers or dyes to color their weaving work, processing their work using                     origins,  its  animals,  culture
                           traditional of tribal methods handed down through generations.          ancestors. Some arts were    etc. we highly recommend
                                                                                                   made of stone and others
                                                                                                   baked  out  of  refined  clay   you  to  book  your  partici-
                                                                                                                                pation.  Living  our  cultural
                                                                                                                                encounter  session  is  mind
                                                      Article by: Etnia Nativa                                                  opening  and  entertaining
                                                                                                                                curious hearts for decades.
                                                      Whatsapp us +297 592 2702 and book                                        Mail  us  at  etnianativa03@
                                                              your Aruban exprerience                                           gmail.com.  Our  facilities
                                                       Etnia Nativa is close to the high rise hotels                            and  activities  take  place
                                                                                                                                close to your place.  q
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