Dennis Cusick facts for kids

Dennis Cusick (born around 1800, died 1824) was a talented Tuscarora painter from New York. He was one of the artists who started the Iroquois Realist style of painting.

Who Was Dennis Cusick?

Dennis Cusick was born around 1800. He belonged to the Tuscarora tribe. The Tuscarora are one of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. This was a powerful group of Native American nations.

His father was Nicholas Cusick (1758–1840). Nicholas was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. He fought alongside the Indian Rangers. The family lived in Oneida County, New York. Later, they moved to Niagara County, New York. This happened when Nicholas got a job. He became an interpreter and helper for missions working with the Tuscarora people.

Nicholas was very interested in recording Native American history. He wanted to write about the tribes living in the area. This interest likely influenced his sons. Dennis's older brother, David Cusick, wrote and illustrated a book. It was called Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations.

In January 1818, Dennis joined the Tuscarora Congregational Church. He painted two watercolors to decorate collection boxes for the church. The church also supported a school. This school was on the Seneca Reservation. It was located at Buffalo Creek, New York.

Dennis Cusick died when he was only twenty-four years old.

Dennis Cusick's Art

Dennis Cusick was a self-taught artist. James Young, a teacher at the Buffalo Creek school, wrote about Dennis. He said Dennis learned art by copying other works. Another teacher praised Dennis's skills. They said he "could draw well." He also "made his own colors from native woods." Dennis was also known for his amazing calligraphy. This is a fancy way of writing. You can see his beautiful writing in his paintings.

Dennis's art combined Native American and European-American styles. This mix shows how Native culture changed. It shows how Christian ideas became part of their lives.

Paintings of School Life

Dennis painted two very similar watercolor pictures. They were made to decorate church collection boxes.

• "Seneca School House" is dated July 3, 1821.
• "Seneca Mission House" is dated April 16, 1822.

Both paintings show a two-story log schoolhouse. It has a sloped roof, a smoking chimney, and a bell tower. On the left, there is a group of Tuscarora warriors and boys. They are dressed in traditional clothing. Tall trees stand on the sides of the paintings. Birds fly in the sky. The later painting is more organized and detailed.

Another pair of watercolors from 1821 shows schoolchildren in class.

• "Seneca School House. July 16, 1821" shows James Young teaching. A group of Tuscarora boys are in the class. You can see books, desks, and windows in the room. Dennis's fancy writing is very precise. He included Bible quotes and writing examples on a chalkboard. He also put small vocabulary lessons in three languages on the walls. The older boys wear gustoweh headdresses. These are special hats that show their Iroquois identity.

• "Seneca Mission House, Nov. 15, 1821" shows girls studying. Mrs. James Young teaches this class. Quotes about work are written above the scene. Tuscarora girls are busy with spinning wheels. Mrs. Young, with her fancy hairstyle, watches them from the left.

Other Surviving Artworks

Two other paintings by Dennis Cusick still exist.

• "Evening Psalm" is a watercolor on paper. It is dated March 4, 1822, and signed by Dennis. This painting shows two Tuscarora warriors. One stands with a bow. The other sits with two guns. A Tuscarora woman holds a baby on her shoulder. They are surrounded by trees and plants. In the background, there are rolling blue hills with evergreen trees. A small part of the sky shows different clouds and a tiny sun. The faces of the people are simple. Dennis used outlines to define shapes. He used lines to create shadows and make things look solid. Above the scene, he wrote a psalm in both Seneca and English.

• "Christening of the Tuscarora Asa Thompson" is not signed. But it is dated 1821. Experts believe Dennis painted it because of his style. This watercolor shows a Tuscarora woman. She is handing her baby to an Iroquois man. He wears a special sash, leggings, and moccasins. Next to him is a minister. He holds a Bible and reaches out his hand. Both men wear top hats. The trees in the background are very artistic. They sway around rolling hills. The center of the painting has a large empty space. This makes the figures stand out.

Dennis Cusick's Legacy

Dennis Cusick was one of the first Iroquois Realist painters. This group included at least five other artists. Among them were David Cusick and Thomas Jacobs. There were also unknown artists from the Cattaraugus Seneca and Oneida tribes. Only twenty-five of their paintings are known today.

Their art was different from older Iroquois art forms. It helped other Native American artists. It showed them how to use new art supplies from around the world. They could use these to express what life was like for them at the time. Jesse Cornplanter (Seneca) continued this realist art style in the early 1900s.