Award winning Oglala Lakota artist Kevin Pourier displays his stone inlaid buffalo jewelry and art at the 13th Annual “A Vision of Our History by Lakota Artists” at the Oglala Lakota College Historical Center near Kyle, South Dakota. Photo by Aly Duncan Neely
OLC Historical Center’s Summer Art Series welcomes Kevin Pourier
By Aly Duncan Neely
Native Sun News Correspondent
nsweekly.com KYLE –– Oglala Lakota College’s summer art series “A Vision of Our History by Lakota Artists” featured the work of Kevin Pourier July 4–8, at the OLC Historical Center west of Kyle. The series, which began in 2003, is devoted to promoting public awareness of the art of the Oglala Lakota people, highlights an historical exhibit of photography from the 1800s, contemporary artwork and a video presentation. Celebrating its 13th year, the summer exhibit opened on June 13 and runs through Sept. 2, and features a different Oglala Lakota artist each week. Pourier’s buffalo horn art took center stage last week as groups of tourists and school children visited the exhibit. In the hands of Oglala Lakota couple Kevin and Valerie Pourier, a buffalo horn becomes jewelry, a spoon, a belt, or a conversation piece. Working collaborativly, their designs are resplendent with Monarch and Swallowtail butterflies, magpies and swallows, star patterns, old beadwork patterns, modern geometrics, floral patterns inspired by the Dakota, and socially relevant Lakota themes. The exquisite buffalo horn creations are intricately carved and etched, then inlaid with natural crushed stones in a variety of colors, sanded by hand and finally polished to a glossy finish. Pourier related a story about the blue stone he uses that comes from Mato Tipila (Bear Lodge) or from Maka To (Blue Earth), Minn., which has historical significance. He stated that a blue stone was given to Crazy Horse by his uncle. When he went into battle Crazy Horse put the stone behind his ear so that his enemies could not kill him. Pourier went on to add that Crazy Horse was not killed by an enemy. Pourier pointed to a picture of Sitting Bull hanging on the wall of the Historical Center. On Sitting Bull’s head was a hat with a Monarch butterfly wing there in the hatband. Pourier went on to explain this photo and his use of the Monarch butterfly as a subject for his art.
Read the rest of the story on the all new Native Sun News website: OLC Historical Center’s Summer Art Series welcomes Kevin Pourier (Contact Aly Duncan Neely at kestreldancing@gmail.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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