Write it down!

Are you ever confused? Do your ideas sometimes change from day to day? I mean that an idea that seemed good, right and logical yesterday, for some reason is not at all proper for today! If you are a normal person the answer is probably yes. Our minds are constantly developing and evolving, as we think, we figure things out. As this process takes place we say that our mind is changing, or that “We have changed our mind”.

When I work with my art work I often say to myself “Why didn't I see that yesterday”? This realization is often particularly true when I work with these artifact stones. I am always amazed when a view that I have become accustom to changes in a flash! Now suddenly the composition is closer to being totally realized. Please do let me point out that it has been my experience that vigorous exercise does often play a part in these realizations. The best time to judge any problem or work is after a walk or some exercise in the gym. One other point, it may help to write what you think in notes to yourself because you may find that the realizations vanish as your metabolism slows down.

Rare Stone Birds!

Greetings! I'm sure that everybody is ready for some fall weather as long as it is cool. It has been a hot summer. This weeks post is to be brief. There are several new prints and still more birds! We photographed a number of stones from that part of the collection because it was what I had on hand and I must admit that I particularly like the bird motif. The next round of work will come soon and then there will be rabbits and jewelry stones. So without further a due...

This blog is about a year old. I have enjoyed the process. I hope to serve you better in coming post and do let me hear from you if there are questions or comments that you would like to make.

"Supernatural Powers"

Many of the viewers of this blog are interested in jewelery craft. It is true that the American Indians were highly skilled in this fine work. Some of the effigy stones that we will look at over the next few months will be examples of art objects intended as adornment. There was belief in the supernatural powers of some stones. These treasures were guarded and often hidden from view. Sacred rituals were associated with the wearing, and many times these were symbols of maturity and rank. It is also interesting to note that the desire to create miniature art works led to the development of the delicate technologies that have produced our post-modern world.

This week we once again have two birds. The first is very real, a more or less “Traditional” pose. The second is somewhat stylized to fit the cubic nature of the material of its manufacture. This motif is a very common effigy in American Indian art work. Do notice that the head faces the birds tail which seems to emphasize the agility of these delicate creatures.

"Respect for all Indigenous People"

Hello! Hope that you are ready for another blog post. I did some printing over the long weekend and let me say that I hope you enjoyed your Labor Day holiday. I would like to point out that this blog is under development. I work from week to week, the photographs and graphic prints are as new as the illustrations in a local news paper. The plates and effigy sculptures are several hundred hundred years old, but the printing work is weekly.

Much of the art work and tradition of the American Indians has been lost. This fact makes it difficult to understand many of the examples that we do have. One thing is for certain, they had a well developed work ethic and an eye for beauty. I believe that the exhibition of these works will furnish motivated individuals with subjects to ponder, and that their thoughts will lead to a greater search and respect for all indigenous peoples.

A window into the past...

A window into the past...

Hi! Welcome to this weeks blog post here at The Collection of Indigenous American Art. First I would like to point out that I started This blog about a year ago this month. I wanted to give you a view into the developing archive. Recently we added photographs of the effigy stone collection. I would like to point out that the works that you see here have never been shown before. I never fail to be astounded when I work with this project. The quality of the work is in many cases magnificent.

There are two photos this week, the first is a large bird effigy which bears some engraving on its surface. This stone is primitive as is the second specimen. The second is a human face. This sculpture probably had set stone eyes at some time in the past.