Richard Zane Smith facts for kids
Richard Zane Smith, born in 1955, is an American artist who creates amazing sculptures. He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He learned how to make pottery at the Kansas City Art Institute. Smith's art mixes ideas from his Wyandotte heritage with styles from Pueblo traditions. He often uses coils and layers of clay in his beautiful pieces. He also gets ideas from many Southwestern pottery styles, including those of the Pueblos and the Ancestral Pueblo people. The Wyandotte Nation tribal council has officially recognized Smith as a special tribal artisan. This means his art is considered important to his tribe's culture.
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About Richard Zane Smith
Richard Zane Smith was born in 1955 in Augusta, Georgia. He spent his childhood in and around St. Louis, Missouri. He chose to focus on ceramics when he studied at the Kansas City Art Institute.
Richard was introduced to art at a young age. He and his four brothers and sisters loved listening to stories. Their parents would tell them many tales as they grew up. Richard became interested in working with clay during his high school years. Besides clay, he also used natural materials like wood, leather, and stone. Clay, however, became his main material for art. During these same years, Richard also became very interested in Wyandot culture.
Smith is helping to bring back the Wyandot language. This language was not used much by the 1960s. Richard began studying it and teaching it to Wyandotte people. He is a member of the Wyandot Nation of Kansas. This group works to preserve Wyandot heritage.
Art Inspiration
In 1978, Smith traveled to Arizona. There, he worked as an art teacher at a Navajo mission school. This was his first time seeing Native clays. He also saw pieces of old pots from the Ancestral Pueblo people. He used these new ideas in his artwork. This helped him create a new style of pottery.
Smith's pottery gets ideas from ancient corrugated pottery. This is pottery where the clay coils are left rough on the outside. His work also looks like old Wyandot basket weaving. Smith is special because he moved from making Southwest-style pottery. He then started exploring Wyandot styles of pottery.
Famous Artworks
- “Op-Art” Geometric Design Jar (2000)
- Corrugated Bowl with Wood/Rock Handle (2005)
- Garden Set of 6 Pieces (2001)
Art Shows
Richard Zane Smith's art has been shown in many places. These include:
- Native American Art, Philbrook Museum of Art
- The American Craft Museum International Tour
- The American Craft Museum
- Denver Art Museum
- "Breaking the Surface", Heard Museum
- San Diego Museum of Man
Art in Museums
Some museums own Richard Zane Smith's artwork. These are called public collections. They include:
- American Craft Museum
- Philbrook Museum of Art
- Denver Art Museum
Awards and Recognition
Richard Zane Smith has received several awards for his art.
- "Best of Pottery Award" at the Heard Museum's Annual American Art juried Competition
- 2010 "Community Spirit Award" from the First Peoples Fund
Richard Zane Smith no longer takes part in art competitions.
See also
