Richard Aitson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Aitson
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Richard Aitson, 2008
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Buffalo Rider
December 26, 1953 Anadarko, Oklahoma, U.S.
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| Died | June 24, 2022 |
| Education | Kimball Union Academy, Oberlin College, Institute of American Indian Arts |
| Known for | Beadwork, poetry |
| Movement | Kiowa art |
| Awards | Red Earth Festival Grand Award, Jackie Autry Purchase Prize |
Richard Aitson (born December 26, 1953 – died June 24, 2022) was a talented Native American artist. He was a member of the Kiowa and Kiowa Apache tribes. Richard was well-known for his beautiful beadwork, for organizing art shows, and for writing poetry. He came from Oklahoma and shared his culture through his art.
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Richard Aitson's Early Life and Education
Richard Aitson was born on December 26, 1953, in Anadarko, Oklahoma. His mother, Alecia Keahbone Gonzales, was a Kiowa traditionalist. She even taught the Kiowa language at a university.
Richard's Kiowa name was "Buffalo Rider." His family had a long history of artists. He was the fifth generation of skilled beadworkers in his family!
He went to several schools, including the Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire. He also studied at Oberlin College in Ohio and the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico.
Richard Aitson's Work as a Curator and Teacher
In 1976, Richard helped create documentaries for the United States Bicentennial. These films were about Native American events.
Later, in 1979, he started working at an art gallery in Colorado. This is where he first began to organize art shows. He organized many group shows, including one called "Winter Camp 2000." This show was held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
Richard also enjoyed teaching. He taught Native American literature at a high school. He was also an art professor at Bacone College.
Richard Aitson's Amazing Beadwork
Richard Aitson started doing beadwork because he needed to. He was invited to join the special Kiowa Gourd Clan. To be part of it, he had to learn how to bead. This way, he could make his own special clothing for the gourd dance.
He called his art "contemporary-traditional." This means it mixed new ideas with old traditions. He made beaded dance outfits for his community. He also created bead art for collectors and museums.
What Kind of Beadwork Did Richard Aitson Make?
Richard was especially famous for his fully beaded cradleboards. These were real, working cradleboards. He also made tiny miniature cradleboards using very small beads.
He once wrote about his inspiration: "I am touched by the art of the World War years and the Reservation Era. In my opinion, that is when the finest Kiowa beadwork was produced." He admired how amazing beadwork was created even when supplies were hard to find.
Richard Aitson's Poetry
Richard Aitson also wrote poems. His poems were often inspired by traditional Kiowa stories passed down through generations.
His writing was known for combining dream-like visions with ideas about nature. This created powerful and striking images in his poems. He was inspired by a famous Chilean poet named Pablo Neruda.
Exhibits and Awards for Richard Aitson
In 1992, Richard Aitson had his own art show. It was at the Southern Plains Indian Museum in Anadarko.
His artwork won many awards. In 1997, he won the Grand Award at the Red Earth Festival. In 2005, he received the Jackie Autry Purchase Prize from the Southwest Museum. Many of his pieces are kept in the permanent collection at the Sequoyah National Research Center in Arkansas.
See also
