Nespelem (art) facts for kids

Nespelem art was a special art movement and an art colony that focused on Native American culture. It was located near the Nespelem River in Washington, which is the home of the Colville Confederated Tribes.

This art colony started around 1937. Artists who joined were asked to record the rich culture of Native Americans. They also captured the stories of important people involved in Native American events in the late 1800s in the Northwest.

What Made Nespelem Art Special?

Unlike many artists in western Washington and Oregon, who often focused on art styles from Asia or other Pacific Coast Native groups, the Nespelem artists had a different goal. They wanted to highlight the past, present, and future of the Interior Salish culture. This culture was facing challenges, and the artists aimed to preserve its beauty and history.

All these elements together made the Nespelem area a perfect place for artists. They could capture memorable scenes and stories that would be saved for future generations to learn from and enjoy.

Who Started the Nespelem Art Colony?

The Nespelem art colony was founded by two artists named Worth Griffin and Clyfford Still. They were the first to create a large collection of visual records about the Nespelem people.

Griffin and Still would accept about 15 to 20 students into the colony at a time. Some of these students were already professional artists. The artists worked very hard during the week, spending many hours creating portraits and landscapes. On weekends, they would go to Grand Coulee to sketch new ideas.

When the artworks were finished, they went to many different places. Some of these important pieces were given to the Washington State Historical Society, where they could be preserved and shared with the public.