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Art
historian Moira F. Harris analyzes the known Fort Marion drawings
attributed to Wo-Haw, Kiowa warrior and artist (1855-1924), in relationship
to then contemporary events.. Her work shows how Kiowa Indian painting
developed from its traditional beginnings to the preset day.
This
most unusual colony of artists developed at Fort Marion, St. Augustine,
Florida, where more than seventy men from five hostile tribes of
the Southern Plains were imprisoned from 1875 to 1878. Their humanitarian
jailer, Captain Richard H. Pratt, believed they could be made into
useful productive citizens if given direction and the opportunity
to develop their native abilities. He provided them with paper,
pencils, and colors, and offered them the opportunity to produce
art works for sale to whites. More than a third of these "Florida
boys" participated and hundreds of their works are preserved
in widely scattered public and private collections.
The
bulk of this volume is the reproduction of the drawings of Wo-Haw
completed during his imprisonment. Of the 76 reproductions, 31 are
full-color plates ... The commentaries are well written and packed
with information ... Well researched and attractively produced,
this volume should prove a popular one for years to come. --
Oklahoma TRANSCRIPT.
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