Native American Art

Medicine Helper

2009-07-05T07:02:00.000-07:00

This sculpture, Medicine Helper, will be on display at the Arizona State Fair in October, 2009.

Views of Bobs latest creation: Medicine Helper (plus detailed photos of medicine bag, etc.)
Actual size: 19" W x 15" H x 12 1/2 " D.

Black Kettle

2008-01-28T14:44:00.000-08:00

Black Kettle $2,500.00 plus s & h

Accepted into the 45th Annual Glendale Juried Fine Arts Exhibit.

Winner Maricopa County Fair, 2008:
First Place in Sculpture Wall-Hanging Class.
Best of Class.

Chief Black Kettle, a Southern Cheyenne leader, firmly believed that his tribe could be preserved only through co-existing with the White Man.

On the morning of September 28, 1864, Black Kettle and his delegation met with John Evans, the territorial governor of Colorado.

The chief made a passionate appeal: “All we ask is that we may have peace with the Whites . . . We want to take good tidings home to our people that they may sleep in peace . . . We are not the enemy. I have not come here with a little wolf’s bark, but have come to talk plain with you . . . We want peace. “

The governor answered Back Kettle’s fervent plea with evasions and recriminations, humiliating the chief in front of his entire delegation. In truth, Governor Evans and his council had no intention of stifling the war frenzy they had created.

At dawn on November 27, 1868, four years and two months after his
impassioned petition (and subsequent to the Sand Creek Massacre) a war-weary Black Kettle and wife, Medicine Woman, were killed during a Bluecoat surprise attack at the sanctuary Cheyenne village on the Washita River, near Fort Cobb, Oklahoma. This vile act of aggression forever changed the peaceful dynamic in the region between the White Man and the Indians.

Blue Jacket

2008-01-28T13:35:00.000-08:00

Shawnee War Chief

Blue Jacket is the artist's interpretation of a Shawnee war chief moments before the 1794 Battle of Fallen Timbers.

Note the red stripes on the lower portion of Blue Jacket's face. Each stripe represents a successful raid into an enemy camp.

Geronimo

2008-01-28T13:01:00.000-08:00

The Dawning of the War Shaman

In fierce defense of Apache land, Geonimo held off soldiers from Mexico and the United States at the same time, earning him Teddy Roosevelt's praise and admiration.

The Rough Rider was quoted as saying, "Geronimo is a great patriot warrior."

Snake Priest

2008-01-28T12:44:00.000-08:00

The Snake Priests, a segment of Native American Society, are admired for their ability to elicit help from the Spirit World.

Ghost Dancer

2008-01-28T12:25:00.000-08:00

The highly sacred dance of the ghost dancers originated in the 1870s from a vision that came to Wavoka, a Paiute Indian. The Great Father appeared to Wovoka and instructed him to lead his people in this dance.

At the same instant, the Ghost Dance religion was born, a religion of prosperity that radiated serenity and peace.

Long Claws

2008-01-28T12:18:00.000-08:00

Indian lore tells the story of Long Claws, an Absaroka warrior, who killed a large badger, thus gaining the animal's great spirit and strength.

"If there is any formidable task, any grievous duty, then it is mine to do. I now have the power."

Long Claws,

Absaroka warrior

Plant of Life

2008-01-28T12:05:00.000-08:00

The Tewa priestess, Plant-of-Life, had the authority to perform the grinding of corn into meal. As part of the daily sacrament, she would then sprinkle the fine meal over family possessions, such as animal fetishes, objects believed to have magical powers. This ritual would nourish the family's spirits.

Two Black Bears

2008-01-28T11:30:00.000-08:00

Legendary War Chief

This Blackfoot warrior, legend has it, sustained life-threatening injuries when he encountered (and eventaully killed) a large male black bear coming out of hybernation. Years later, this same warrior killed a second black bear and was given the name: Two Black Bears.

The Contrary

2008-01-28T10:23:00.001-08:00

Not Man...

Not Woman

Contraries preferred the duties and dress of women, and were respected for their mastery of female crafts.They occasionally donned male attire and became warriors, at times riding their horses into battle, sitting backwards on their steeds. This unique society is revered by many Native American tribes.