It's odd to think that tourism could have a significant impact on an art form, but that's exactly what happened in the West during the 1880s.

"That was the period when the transcontinental railroad reached California, bringing in tourists from back East," explained Jessica Horton, curator of "Weaving Connections," one of four new exhibits at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum. "People became fascinated by the Wild West and the idea of the untamed frontier, especially Native Americans."

Traditional baskets woven by American Indians became one of the most popular souvenirs. So much so that basket collecting became a fad.

"This exhibit documents the changes that took place because of that," said Horton, who graduated from UC San Diego and spent the past year working for the SANA Art Foundation in Escondido. "Before that, baskets served a utilitarian function, so motifs that decorated them were drawn from traditional Native American culture with geometric forms and repeated patterns."

The natives suddenly saw that they could make more money selling to tourists, so they made the baskets more appealing to Eastern eyes.

"They incorporated the romantic imagery of the Wild West with pictures of animals, plants and people," she pointed out. "Eventually, the weaving took on new shapes. In the exhibit we have an umbrella stand that was probably commissioned by a collector. There's also a snake hat that's a hybrid of a Western-style hat with a rattlesnake on it."

The exhibit came about from Horton's work with SANA, which is a nonprofit arts foundation that looks to educate the public about the art of Oceania, Africa and the Americas. Founders Ned and Nina Smith are avid collectors of American Indian baskets.

"We originally envisioned the show at UCSD, but there was another show there," Horton said. "Then we moved it to the California Center for the Arts, which is a bigger space. So we had to grow the show and borrowed items from other institutions."

The exhibit is divided into three sections. The first examines the influence of non-native culture in California from the 1880s to the 1940s. The second looks at the role that the new trade played in native society. The third contains examples of native aesthetics with non-native influences. Visitors are taken on a journey that illustrates how two cultures influenced an art form.

"I want people to have a broader understanding of the area they're in," she said. "California has such a rich cultural history, and I want them to see how that led to the place we live today. It's what makes our home such a unique place."

"Weaving Connections"

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon-4 p.m. Sundays; through Sept. 30

Where: California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido

Tickets: $5, general; $4, seniors/military, $3, students with ID; children under age 12 free

Information: (760) 839-4120

Web: www.artcenter.org/museum.htm