Cultural Background

Beadwork usually falls under the category of four-fold symmetry, which means the same shape is reflected in both directions. I'll be using the concept of the different design methods and how they were used. The design type was based on four-fold symmetry. In the first page, all four images shown share the common factor of being four-fold symmetry. The four images were a piece of embroidery from the Plains Indians, a piece of Shoshone beadwork, a Pawnee buffalo hide drum, and a Navajo rug. Reflection symmetry is when the two sides show perfect symmetry, and appear to be mirrored of eachother. Four fold symmetry is commonly used for healing ceremonies, where the healing man paits a four fold symmetry based painting and then its brushed away in the night and the person is meant to be healed. Its similar to the Cartesian coordinate system, which is used used as a measurement system. Native American beadwork was created before the Europeans arrived, and were used to make boats and even scarves.