Symbols have been borrowed and exchanged forever.  I am drawn to the petroglyphs and symbol studies I have been painting, by that very thing: how symbols are a visual language, which seemingly jumps across time and continents.  Many of the same type of imagery in yesterday’s petroglyphs is found the world over.  Those same images are prevalent in society today.  Take the American Eagle for instance…

“Bird of Thunder and Lightning” 11 x 30” Watercolor and Gouache on Paper

Where does the Bald Eagle as the national symbol of America come from? It is no big mystery when contemplating the importance of the Thunderbird in Native cultures.  It must be remembered that the contributions which the first European settlers found here, and from which they borrowed liberally, is an important part of the collective American heritage.

The stylized image of the thunderbird spans many Native American cultures.   Often depicted with characteristic zig-zag lightning streaks, the thunderbird represents a powerful and sometimes angry force. Coming from the sky, it is recognized as a Native American constellation as well as being credited as the source of thunder and lightning. 

As the Thunderbird is present in many rituals, this painting depicts it on a ceremonial beaded pipe bag.  Petroglyph depictions, rock carvings, represented in this artwork come from numerous sites, such as the Jeffers Petroglyph Site in Minnesota.  The image of a Thunderbird beneath an arc is a Cheyenne petroglyph from the Southern Black Hills.