Arthur Amiotte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Douglas Amiotte
|
|
|---|---|
Arthur Amiotte, 1965.jpg
|
|
| Born |
Wanblí Ta Hócoka Washté
March 25, 1942 |
| Nationality | Oglala Lakota, American |
| Education | BA Northern State University |
| Known for | collage, printmaking, painting |
| Awards | Bush Leadership Fellow, South Dakota Governor’s Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Arts |
Arthur Douglas Amiotte (whose Lakota name is Waŋblí Ta Hóčhoka Wašté, meaning Good Eagle Center) was born in 1942. He is a Native American artist from the Oglala Lakota tribe. He is known for his paintings, collage art, and prints. Arthur Amiotte is also an educator and an author.
Contents
About Arthur Amiotte
Arthur Amiotte was born on March 25, 1942. His birthplace was Pine Ridge, South Dakota, which is on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. As a baby, he was given the name Warpa Tanka Kuciyela, or Low Black Bird. He received his second Lakota name in 1972.
His parents were Walter Douglas Amiotte and Olive Louise Mesteth. His aunt, Emma E. Amiotte, was also a Lakota artist. His great-grandfather, Standing Bear, was part of the Battle of Little Bighorn. Arthur lived on the reservation until he was six years old. After that, he visited every summer until he was 15.
His Education and Early Career
While studying at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Arthur Amiotte attended a workshop in 1961. This workshop was led by a famous artist named Oscar Howe. From this experience, Amiotte learned that a Native American artist could also be a modern artist.
He earned his bachelor's degree in Art and Art Education. After college, he worked as a teacher. He taught at Woodrow Wilson Junior High School in Sioux City from 1964 to 1966.
Important Mentors
Two special people helped guide Arthur Amiotte in his life and art. From 1969 to 1975, his grandmother, Christina Standing Bear, taught him about his family's history. She was a "sacred bundle keeper," meaning she protected important traditional items and knowledge. His great-grandfather, Standing Bear, had even illustrated the famous book Black Elk Speaks.
From 1972 to 1981, Amiotte was also guided by a Lakota medicine man named Pete Catches. Pete Catches taught him about Lakota spirituality and traditional ceremonies. These teachings deeply influenced Amiotte's art.
In 1983, he earned his master's degree from the University of Montana-Missoula. This degree focused on "Interdisciplinary Studies," which means studying different subjects together.
Arthur Amiotte was a professor of Native American art history at Brandon University in Manitoba. But in 1985, he decided to focus completely on making art. He opened his own art studio in Custer, South Dakota, in 1986.
Curating Exhibitions
Arthur Amiotte has also helped organize art shows. These shows focused on the culture of tribes from the Great Plains region. Some of the places where he curated exhibitions include:
- The Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian in Santa Fe, New Mexico
- The Akta Lakota Museum in Chamberlain, South Dakota
- The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming
- The Museum of World Cultures in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
In 2004, Arthur Amiotte gave a special talk called the Oscar Howe Memorial Lecture.
His Artworks
Arthur Amiotte's art is deeply connected to Lakota beliefs and stories passed down through generations. His entire creative work shows his Lakól wicóh'an washtélaka – his love for Lakota traditions. He supports Lakota ceremonies, and his art often shows the spiritual experiences from these traditions.
Amiotte describes his art as being tied to the reservation culture. He believes his art helps connect the past with the present. He once said that he felt modern art was ignoring the important "reservation period." This was a time when Lakota people were learning new things, like going to schools in the east and seeing many magazines and photographs. He wanted his art to show this mix of old and new ways of life.
Collage Art
His collage art is inspired by Ledger art. Ledger art was created by Native Americans, often on old ledger books, using drawings to tell stories. Amiotte takes this idea to a new level. His collages cleverly show the differences between Lakota traditions and modern life. An example is "The Visit" (1995), which is an acrylic-collage at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Wyoming.
He also explores the experiences of Lakota people who traveled to Europe. This happened during the "Wild West show" era in the early 1900s.
Exhibitions and Collections
Arthur Amiotte has been part of over 100 art shows. More than 20 of these were solo exhibitions, meaning only his art was shown. He has displayed his work across the United States and Europe. For example, he showed his art at the Kunsthallen Bradts Klaedefabrik in Odense, Denmark, in 1994 and 1995.
His art includes paintings, sculptures, and textile objects. His work is held in 26 public collections and about 200 private collections. Some of the public places where his art can be seen include:
- The Denver Art Museum
- The Sequoyah National Research Center in Little Rock, Arkansas
- The National Museum of Natural History
Here are some specific artworks in public collections:
- At The Minneapolis Institute of Arts:
- Prince Albert, 1989 (a collage and acrylic painting)
- 1913 Spring/Summer 1913- Giving Away His Suit, 1990
- At Joslyn Art Museum:
- New Horse Power in 1913, 1994 (acrylic and collage)
- Ascent of the Maiden, 1964 (tempera on paper)
- At Hood Museum of Art:
- "Saint Agnes" Manderson, S.D. Pine Ridge Rez, 2001 (acrylic and collage)
- At Whitney Gallery of Western Art:
- The Visitors from Oklahoma, 1996 (collage and acrylic)
Writings and Talks
Arthur Amiotte often gives talks both in the United States and other countries. He has also written books and articles. In 1989, he wrote a chapter about Sioux Arts in an important book. This book was called Illustrated History of the Arts in South Dakota. It was published during the state's 100th anniversary.
He also helped select photographs and poems by Sioux children from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. This was for a book published in 1971 by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. Amiotte also wrote an essay for this book.
Awards and Honors
From 1979 to 1981, Arthur Amiotte served on the Presidential Advisory Council for the Performing Arts. This council advises the President of the United States on arts-related matters.
In 1980, he received the South Dakota Governor's Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Arts. In the same year, he was given the Bush Leadership Fellowship. This award allowed him to study Native American art collections in the United States and Europe. He did this research at the University of Montana-Missoula.
Amiotte has received many other awards and grants. These include:
- The Lila Wallace Reader's Digest Artists at Giverny, France (2002)
- The Bush Artist Fellowship
- The Getty Foundation Grant (1994 and 1995)
In 1999, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognized him as an artist and scholar by the Native American Art Studies Association.
Arthur Amiotte has also been given honorary doctorates. These special degrees are from the Oglala Lakota College and Brandon University in Manitoba.
