Bury my heart at wounded knee (II)

This is the final piece in my trilogy of tributes to Native Americans & their fight to preserve their lands and culture.

'Bury my heart at wounded knee (II)' is a bespoke assemblage box containing one of my original sketches, behind verre églomisé treated glass to give a distressed look, brass gun shell cases, parrot tail feathers, with antique glasses, shelf and mirror behind (535mm wide, 790mm high, 245mm deep).

It is titled after the 1970 book of the same name by author & historian Dee Brown that covers the history of Native Americans from their perspective. It describes a series of betrayals and injustices by the US government, who are depicted as destroying indigenous culture.

Wounded Knee is where the last major confrontation took place between the US Army and Native Americans. It is where Crazy Horse's parents buried his heart and some of his bones after his death in 1877.

You can read about the other two pieces in this trilogy by following these links:

http://www.paulbroomfield.co.uk/blog/burymyheartatwoundedknee

http://www.paulbroomfield.co.uk/blog/2016/1/18/crazy-horse

Bury my heart at wounded knee

This week's featured piece of assemblage art is the first of two entitled 'Bury my heart at wounded knee' - after the 1970 book of the same name by author & historian Dee Brown that covers the history of Native Americans from their perspective.

My work follows the theme of the book, which describes a series of betrayals and injustices by the US government, who are portrayed as destroying Native American culture through warfare, forced relocations and persecution.

'Bury my heart at wounded knee (1)' is a 470mm x 610mm x 190mm assemblage box featuring one of my original pencil drawings, antiqued mirror glass, bird skull & vertebrae with vintage frame and antique bullet, billiard ball and brass plaque.

Wounded Knee was the location of the last major confrontation between the US Army and Native Americans. It is also the place where Crazy Horse's parents buried his heart and some of his bones after his death in 1877.

Crazy Horse - a native American inspiration

This recent piece of assemblage art is inspired by the memory of the legendary warrior Crazy Horse. He was leader of the Lakota Sioux, celebrated for his battle skills as well as his efforts to preserve Native American traditions and way of life.

It features a horse skull and antique taxidermy Kingfisher, a symbol of giving a horse speed into battle; a 19th Century ink pot and blue parrot feather represent the hollow words of the treaty with the Americans.

Crazy Horse resisted efforts to force the Sioux on to reservations, and fought alongside Sitting Bull and others in the American-Indian wars, and was instrumental in the defeat of George Armstrong Custer’s forces at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. After surrendering to federal troops in 1877, he was killed amid rumours of a planned escape.