Summer of the Buffalo
12 x 12 x 1.5
Encaustic, ink, pigment stick, photo transfer, and gold leaf
We recently went on a family trip to Yellowstone right after a White Buffalo Calf was born in the park. To be in such a beautiful and protected place was spiritual on its face. To many American Indians, a White Buffalo Calf is the most sacred living thing on earth. During a ceremony honoring the white buffalo birth, Chief Looking Horse, a spiritual leader of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota Oyate warned that "Mother Earth is sick and has a fever..." so the message is one of hope and a call to action.
When we were in Yellowstone, we were reminded that buffalos were almost extinct and only a few hundred existed in the late 1800's. Killing bison was rooted in racism and carelessness for the natural world.The near-total destruction of the bison proved devastating for Native Americans, who had for thousands of years relied on the animal for clothing, food and shelter.Nature is core to Indigenous cultures and rituals were created and timed to honor natural cycles. It inspires the creation art, which is an everyday practice for many native communities. I have so much respect for these legends and modern cultures that have so much to teach us about being good stewards of our planet and fostering a shared vision through art and community.
Summer of the Buffalo
12 x 12 x 1.5
Encaustic, ink, pigment stick, photo transfer, and gold leaf
We recently went on a family trip to Yellowstone right after a White Buffalo Calf was born in the park. To be in such a beautiful and protected place was spiritual on its face. To many American Indians, a White Buffalo Calf is the most sacred living thing on earth. During a ceremony honoring the white buffalo birth, Chief Looking Horse, a spiritual leader of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota Oyate warned that "Mother Earth is sick and has a fever..." so the message is one of hope and a call to action.
When we were in Yellowstone, we were reminded that buffalos were almost extinct and only a few hundred existed in the late 1800's. Killing bison was rooted in racism and carelessness for the natural world.The near-total destruction of the bison proved devastating for Native Americans, who had for thousands of years relied on the animal for clothing, food and shelter.Nature is core to Indigenous cultures and rituals were created and timed to honor natural cycles. It inspires the creation art, which is an everyday practice for many native communities. I have so much respect for these legends and modern cultures that have so much to teach us about being good stewards of our planet and fostering a shared vision through art and community.