This painting is entitled “A Ribbon on the Chest” and is a painting about male prowess.

In Native American tradition, each feather in a war bonnet has a story affixed to it.  Usually about an achievement in battle such as counting coup, or enemy kills, or horses stolen from an enemy.  The wearing of the bonnet is a narrative of the story: a symbolic re-telling of the tale to anyone familiar with it.  By shear number of feathers, an assumption can be drawn.

This is likened to the wearing of present day military medals.  Wearing them opens the wearer to interpretation of their fine achievement and invites the telling of the tale.

In less than a week, I leave on my trip to England.  I will be having an exhibition of this series of artwork at The Brick Lane Gallery in London, May 19 – 31.  I intend to blog each day of the trip, so check back for photos of the event and the many interesting things that will come into my life from this experience.  It will be my symbolic ribbon on the chest, inviting dialogue and the telling of tales!