12 x 36”” Oil on Canvas
For a short period of time, the barter system set up by trapper/traders and Native Americans were initially mutually beneficial.
Then, like most business deals, things changed…
The barter was broken, as were promises.
I have been doing paintings of trade beads for many years, and have been re-visiting the subject matter. Beautiful old glass trade beads and ancient clay beads continue to call to me and ask to be interpreted.
24 x 36” Watercolor on Clayboard
In reference to early trade goods and their use as currency in the beaver pelt trade. Magic to the touch, and glowing in the sunlight, trade beads such as these changed the world.
The ancient Egyptians made beads, and then the secrets to the process of creating glass beads was lost to time. The Venetians, famed with their glass-blowing skills yet today, eventually were able to duplicate the process, and this became a well guarded secret for generations. It was indeed a very powerful currency, until eventually the trade secrets were leaked, and beads were made world-wide. Still, a very material and time demanding process, what is viewed as a trifle with today’s technology, remained a very valuable form of currency as mankind spread around the globe.
This detailed and large-scale painting of vintage trade beads is framed in an antiqued gold deep frame, which accentuates the gem-like quality of the beads. To do paintings of trade beads has become a passion and one that I will continue to explore.
11 x 14” Watercolor on Clayboard
My fascination with trade beads began with a visit to a rendezvous. The modern day rendezvous is a reenactment of the early days of westward expansion in which trapper/traders and Native Americans traded goods and culture. In the initial stages, the trade was driven by luxury goods: beaver pelts for beads and metal goods. The objects of the trade were the currency. Beaver pelts and beads were major currency at one time. Those two items, ironically, were largely luxury goods: making westward expansion and trade a fashion-driven enterprise!
11 x 14” Watercolor on Clayboard
A hank is a string of beads. Seeing beautiful hanks of glass trade beads, with sunlight shining through them is every bit as compelling to me as a gold brick. Trade beads were popular currency in early western expansion, and are still sought after today.
My trade bead paintings are displayed in Rapid City , SD at Prairie Edge Gallery. The facility; is not only a gallery, it also is a store, selling beautiful and unique items. If you get there, don’t miss the outstanding collection of trade beads that is on display: truly amazing in how it is presented. It is truly a bead library. Beads of all shapes and colors are on display in lit glass cabinets. The store also has a large collection of beads for sale. Truly something to take in when you are in the Black Hills.
12 x 36” Watercolor on Clayboard
The Hudson Bay traders brought items of great beauty to trade with Native Americans as they made their way west. As cultures learned from one another, a thread was created, which led to an inevitable intertwining of ideas and future. Ah, trade beads have gotten me thinking.
As world resources become increasingly scarce, it seems inevitable that mankind will have conflict. Our interdependence on one another is a concern, but perhaps could very well be what saves us… what are your thoughts? I’d love to open up some dialogue on this issue.
12 x 36” Watercolor on Clayboard
This profusion of glass trade beads is not only pleasing to look at, but intriguing to contemplate. Mankind has always bartered; as one area of the world had different resources and technologies that the other wanted. Such was so with the early trading of goods in American westward expansion.
The trade and inevitable merging of cultures has entwined and influenced the current culture of America.
I’ve upped my game: this one is long and vertical: very fun and echoes the fall of the beads as they are hung on display at a rendezvous. Glass trade beads: symbolic of the complex nature of economic and personal exchange..
I had a nice opportunity to have my artwork featured on the cover of a local publication; The Country Register. There is a artist bio on page 12. This was done in conjunction with our area’s very large and well-attended Black Hills Stock Show. Below is a link to the on-line issue of this publication.
http://www.countryregister.com/publishers/publishersites/nsdakota/documents/CRNRGPJanFeb2013ISSUE_WEB.pdf
11 x 14” Watercolor on Clayboard
Baskets of trade beads: all thrown together: like a melting pot of cultures: every shape, size and color… making up a beautiful collection of intrigue.
Trade beads have become a passion in my painting. As I look introspectively as to the “why” that I paint beads, I found the question; “What is your currency?”
Beads are beautiful, gem-like and mystical to the touch. Trade beads assisted in the westward expansion barter system, and were highly valued as a currency. The “recipe” of how to make them goes back centuries and was passed down as a well-kept secret. Their material cost is quite inexpensive in comparison to the richness and intrigue they hold. Perhaps cost is not the only criteria to assess worth. Perhaps one should question the true value of what is important in life, and what motivates a person…
My bead paintings can be seen here on my website, and in my Rapid City, SD gallery, Prairie Edge.
11 x 14” Oil on Clayboard
Early trade during America’s western expansion was largely driven by luxury goods. Beaver pelts were plentiful to the Native Americans at that time, and they desired items which they did not have the resources or technology to produce. Both sides had something to offer, and both desired something they did not have.
This set up a fashion exchange, an industry which is still alive and well in modern day: just check out the adornments found at fashion week!
What do we prize today as being “top fashion” and what do we sneer at from yesterday. Everything old is new again, as it is said. Hemlines go up, hemlines go down!
“Ceremonial Connection”
12 x 12” Oil on Canvas
The bison was everything to the Northern Plains Indian culture, and a very powerful symbol of protection. This shield reflects the lifeblood connection that the bison provided man.