DEER ANTLERS
Deer bones and antlers were made into a variety of tools, weapons, and ceremonial items. The top part of the skull was made into spoons, while leg bones were formed into knife handles. Bone slivers were made into fine sewing needles and awls. Archaeologists have found deer antlers sheathed in copper, which may have been worn ceremoniously by tribal shamans. The antlers were also made into buttons, beads, and carved sculptures.
A Whole Plate toned Kallitype from a wet collodion negative. I used Platinum Palladium + gold toner and Sodium Citrate as the developer. This image is represented by the number 3 as well as showing the parts of the antlers used for buttons.
NUMBERS
Three represents the vertical picture of the world. Man lives in a space defined by the Heavens (the Upper World), the Earth (the Middle World), and the Underworld (the Lower World). The most significant numbers for the indigenous population of North America are three, four, and seven, and they play an important role in the lives of American Indians: in their mythology, rituals, and ceremonies, chants, literature, architecture, and visual arts, households, etc.
SYMBOLS & PHILOSOPHIES
I’m very interested in Native American symbols. I’m interested in how indigenous people view/viewed the world through these symbols and what we can learn from them. The animals, objects, numbers, weather, planets, and patterns. These cultures are rich with meaning and connection. They live/lived their lives in a completely different way from the average American today. In my opinion, it’s a more connected and more beautiful way to live. It’s full of meaning and purpose.
I was out yesterday making photographs of huge rock outcroppings in Red Rock Canyon. The Ute/Tabeguache called them, “the bones of Mother Earth”. It’s where the Ute origin story begins. I was thinking about how disconnected the average American has become from nature. They live in a synthetic world, physically and mentally. They’re geared toward consumption and greed. They feel entitled to ravage and destroy anything and everything if it means they get more. More money or more fame. Money seems to be the biggest driver in their lives. To me, they’ve lost the most important concepts in life; respect, selflessness, gratitude, humility, admiration, empathy, compassion, and the ability to really love. These attributes seem rare in our (American) culture today. However, it’s understandable given our “education” and the “values” we’ve been taught. The drive for money and fame is out in the open. It’s celebrated. People flaunt their desire for both, at any cost. To me, it’s such an empty, and meaningless life to live that way. Conspicuous consumption, the drive for fame and wealth; nothing else. It feels like the American motto now.
PHOTOGRAPHS I WANT TO MAKE
I gathered these antlers from I’m going to try and explore some of the symbols of the indigenous people that lived here. Some images will be more conceptual than literal. This is the kind of work I like making. It’s meaningful and powerful to me. I get to learn new things, contemplate new ideas, and sometimes, even implement new philosophies into my life. What more can you ask for? Making art is a great teacher. It allows time for new world views to soak in and take hold. It can enlighten and inform both the viewer and the maker. I like that is the definition of Art.