New Works
10" X 12", Mixed Medium; Oil, acrylic, wood and rawhide
20 x 10, mixed medium; oil on canvas, beads and bells
30 x 26, Mixed Medium; acrylic on watercolor paper, sharpie, spray paint and coffee
18" x 24", Mixed Medium; acrylic, oil and beads
"Head of the Heard, Lead Pony"
16" x 30", Mixed Medium; Oil, beads, quilled medicine wheel
“Head of the Heard, Lead Horse” was created at the renown Heard Museum of native cultures and Art, in Phoenix Arizona as a demonstration piece during the Heard Museum’s 50th Anniversary. The theme of this piece was to communicate to my audience the very intimate change of life or “Rites of Passage” of a young man to adulthood as he takes his place among his people. Directly centered is the Medicine wheel with outreaching designed beadwork connecting both the light of the heavens and mystery of the night.
The undecorated pony represents the innocence of the child and the eagle feather above symbolizes the beginning of the passage (spiritual naming). An eagle staff signifies the beginning acts of selflessness rather than selfishness, among his people. The decorated pony represents the change into manhood. Reins and feather denotes that his path is controlled by the one truth.
" Soldier Pony, I'm the only one who came home"
10" X 12", Mixed Medium; Oil, acrylic, wood and rawhide
The Sacred Dog (Horse) was a trusted companion to the Native American/First Nation tribes and more speciffically their Scouts and warriors. The bond between them was so intimate and personal that it was reveered as a spiritual partnership. This partnership is spoken of in the Arikara "Bears Trail Song";" I'm the only one who came home" this songs pays tribute to one of two survivors of the Battle of Little Big Horn.
"From the West is Where We Come From"
26" X 32" Mixed Medium; Oil and quill work
Face us west in ceremony (Medicine Lodge) as,"from the west is where we come from". The instructions given to the Arikara
(Sáhniš) people to guide them in spiritual harmony with the powers of the Buffalo nation. Historically, Buffalo was a vital food, clothing source for the First nation/Native American tribes as well as part of their ceremonial life.
exert:"The man married to Buffalo Woman" a story told by my Grandfather Lone Chief,(Bill Deane jr.) a member of the Prairie Sod Band. "Myths and traditions of the Arikara Indians"
"Young Hawk ponies"
26" x 31", Mixed Medium; Oil, elks teeth, quill work medicine wheel and beaded feathers
This piece is a tribute to Joseph Young Hawk – Arikara Warrior who served in World War I,
Aug 4, 1914 – November 11 1918, a man/people without a country until the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924
JOE YOUNG HAWK (Arikara): captured by five German soldiers in WWI, he turned on his German captors, killed three with his bare hands and captured the other two. Shot through both legs, he marched his prisoners back through enemy territory to Allied lines.
“Until the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, Indians occupied an unusual status under federal law. Some had acquired citizenship by marrying white men. Others received citizenship through military service, by receipt of allotments, or through special treaties or special statutes. But many were still not citizens, and they were barred from the ordinary processes of naturalization open to foreigners. Congress took what some saw as the final step on June 2, 1924 and granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the United States.” The granting of citizenship was not a response to some universal petition by American Indian groups. Rather, it was a move by the federal government to absorb Indians into the mainstream of American life. No doubt Indian participation in World War I accelerated the granting of citizenship to all Indians, but it seems more likely to have been the logical extension and culmination of the assimilation policy. After all, Native Americans had demonstrated their ability to assimilate into the general military society. There were no segregated Indian units as there were for African Americans. Some members of the white society declared that the Indians had successfully passed the assimilation test during wartime, and thus they deserved the rewards of citizenship.”(Nebraska Studies.org)
"Red Earth Ponies"
16" x 30 ", Mixed Medium; Oil, quill work medicine wheel and beads
Red Earth Ponies is designed to illustrate the connection between the Sacred Dog and the people. These four xaapa´hat-Bay Horses are traveling on a green path which represents growth on earth and in the heavens. Seven hoof prints acknowledge the 6 directions and the seventh, being the human nations. A red hand print represents to understanding of the divine presence and the gift of the sacred dog to the people. Two spirit lights symbolize the male and female relationship joined t to insure the future of the upcoming generations. The quill work medicine wheel hosts the powers of all directions and four color nations that exists in the world.
"First Woman, A flower among many"
12" x 16", Mixed Medium; Oil and beads
"First Woman, A flower among many"
This piece is a tribute to all the first born women of the family and their important position they have to setting the example and leading a path to success. This piece is moreover honoring my eldest daughter Monica (First Woman). Tiger lilies are flowers that grew wild among many flowers in the Dakota plains where we lived and were a special gift given to her when I returned from my travels on horseback.
The first women are very special individuals that stand out first among all the other flowers. The white horse is from our Great-Grandfather "Yellow Bird" ,He was a member of the Ghost Society and keeper of a horse medicine bundle. I was told that he would send a white horse to protect us from harm.
This work also is a tribute to my sister Nelrene the first born of our family and one of the very special individuals that inspired and encouraged me to create art; I love you both so very much. Do your best and set the example for the rest to follow.
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