"There was no time left for Study and Art "

In my last post 5/18/2011 I talked briefly about the French and Indian war. I related that this battle took place from 1754-1763 and that it marked the collapse of indigenous American culture in the Mississippi river valley. After 1763 most of the tribal centers deteriorated, turmoil and confusion set in , there was no place for the Indian Nations to live a proper life. Starvation and disease became common place. There was no time left for study and art.

It is interesting to note that no sooner than the war had ended in 1763, the English arrived with demands that their “subjects”assume a greater tax burden than ever before. With the French threat diminished, the British were embolden. Their callous display would so enrage the country that the Declaration of Independence was written and signed into law. This action starts the American Revolutionary War 1776-1783. It is very likely that the war would have been lost if it had not been for the French and Indigenous American fighters that once again came to the battle.

You may wonder why that many Anthropologist agree that these graphic images are better than 250 years old, it has to do with a war fought between the English and the French. That war was fought here in north America. It is the French and Indian War that was fought from 1754-1763. The French had claimed what is now Canada and the Mississippi river valley.

I will not go into any explanation of the war, you can read about that in the library! Instead I would like to point out that the French Nation has done more to create and preserve all art than any other nation on earth. The relationship between the French and the indigenous American people was one of love and mutual respect. The french supplied metal tools and other necessities, and the Indians provided skill and stamina. Today we see how important that the French influence was, and how it continues to be a great asset to the country and the nation.

A Job for Skilled Hands!

There is a dilemma in posting this blog and that is the fact that there is only so much storage space for past post. I also have limits on my Picasa Web Album, so at some point I will have to make adjustments and delete some text and images. I am studding various technical solutions to this problem, such as pdfs and ebooks, but at this time nothing is available. I invite you to make your own files, if you are interested and have the knowledge and the means. My point is this, revealing the Collection of Indigenous American Art is my intention. I am pleased with your interest.

By all means please do keep in mind that these rubbings do not do justice to many of these stone plates. I am only proofing with dry media to see that there is an art work present. I do not use ink because it might contaminate the fragile surface. It is best to leave the actual printing to a skilled individual with the proper tools.

There was a time when I was the only person that saw the proofs that I print. Now, thanks to Google, you have the opportunity to share the experience! In the near future I may be able to post video on You Tube, then you will be able to see and watch the process. Many stones are printed to find the few acceptable examples that accompany this blog post every week.

I would point out here that personal computers are changing every aspect of our lives. The private ownership of a pc with an internet service account brings the user many opportunity's that virtually did not exist a quarter century ago.

This blog posting offers the individual viewer access to images not available anywhere else in the world. What more can be said, other than, “yes it's free!”