A prayer, a rabbit,s foot, a special song or number…a fetish.
All examples of ways in which humans affix hope in a concrete way.
The wish for health, happiness, good fortune, a good life.
Whether symbolically evidenced in a tangible form, or held closely within ones heart.
A prayer.
Red is a highly symbolic color: of death, blood and violence. It can also symbolize exuberance, sexiness, richness, fame. What many Americans don’t realize is, red has many different meanings globally. Some brides wear red, some people wear red in mourning. Understanding a reference to color in a cultural piece, therefore, requires understanding of the culture in which it was created.
In my painting, I am doing a great deal of research into the Northern Plains Indians, particularly the Sioux tribes which most recently roamed by region before the white man came. The Sioux tribe is still a large presence in the culture of South Dakota, and always will be.
Which of us are not in many days merely plugging along, treading water, staying afloat…
This weary figure emerged within my painting entitled “Bison Fetish”. I have been doing many of my paintings in warm, vibrant colors, so this particular image is at odds with the festive nature of the colors in the painting. It is symbolic of how hard work reaps reward, eventually. Not all reward is immediate. It builds the character of who you are, and eventually emerges in a manner not necessarily as anticipated. It is my philosophy: keep plugging along!
What makes something valuable? If I contemplate the phenonomon of E-Bay, it takes two or more people interested in something to give it a value. The higher the interest, the more bidding that takes place, until the ultimate sales price is established. Supply and demand.
Other ways to evaluate a value is to look at an item’s importance; either by the cost of the raw materials and labor used, craftsmanship, culture, particular artist who created the item, quality of construction…. Many considerations go into establishing value. Overall aesthetics: the appeal to the eye, the value to the culture… I pose the question: in what way is today’s construction taking aesthetics into account?
Despite the prevalent Thunderbolt image in this painting, a major theme of the work is the phases of the moon which are in the background. My intent is to show the symbolic passage of time as well as the telling of time.
Several days have passed since I last blogged: a nasty virus took me down, and zapped my strength. Once, again, helping me to realize how very good I really do feel most of the time. It is a reminder that I don’t fully appreciate my health and often take it for granted. With the passage of time, this appreciation of when we feel good is important.
This is a detail of a painting I did of Lookout Mountain, in Spearfish, South Dakota. This local landmark is symbolic of home to me. The painting is titled: Beneath the Surface.
To the west of this beautiful valley, headed to Wyoming, is an intriguing site. It was discovered when Interstate 90 was being built. It is an ancient buffalo jump, called The Vore Buffalo Jump. Here, over many years, Native Americans utilized the natural crevice to stampede buffalo over a cliff. They then shot them with bows and arrows and butchered them in the depression. Over the years, layer upon layer of bones and arrowheads are found, and today discovered. This painting’s full image shows a juxtaposed image of events which may have happened and evidence of that lurks just beneath the surface.
After a long and cold winter, I am seeing more sun in the Black Hills. There is still snow, grant you, but now there is sun. I walked my dog, Tip, yesterday, and heard birds chirping. Between the mud puddles there were traces of green grass poking up. I am so glad Spring is nearly here!
I cannot imagine how long and cold a winter was, sheltered in a tipi. They are cone shaped, and energy efficient, yet when the wind blows and it is below zero before the wind chill was even factored in… it had to be COLD! Spring has been celebrated since before recorded time, and still is today.
I began my painting career with watercolor. It has been the basis of all other medium I have painted with, as I like to paint in transparent layers. This technique is very helpful in my exploration of juxtaposition of imagery in my artwork.
Now, after many years away from watercolor painting, it is again the basis of the work I am currently doing.
It is all a cycle.
In making trade, one establishes a currency. Early settlers and trapper traders in America utilized trade beads as a form of currency. To have technology that another group does not have, is power. It was then: it still is today. Keeping technology at cutting edge is a harder and harder feat in today’s world.
To bargain with a human being, one needs to establish their currency. This principle is utilized in child rearing to making agreements between nations. Supply and demand, really. Establishing a currency: do you know what your currency is?
I love to paint the sensation of motion: life is in continuous motion, and if it isn’t, then you aren’t moving forward!
Many of my paintings incorporate movement. I love the feel of the paint as I push it around to create effects. I love the texture of the paper and how the paint responds to it.
“Everything is in motion. Everything flows. Everything is vibrating.” William Hazlet
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/motion_2.html