Mike He Crow to present program on “Traditional Lakota Art” at Crazy Horse Memorial on August 13th
CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL – Mike He Crow will present and demonstrate “Traditional Lakota Art” Thursday, August 13th at 6 p.m. during the free Thursday Night Summer Performance & Lecture Series at Crazy Horse Memorial.
Mike He Crow, Minnicoujou Lakota/Apache was raised on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. His family was instrumental in shaping his passion for Lakota history and tools. His father, Francis He Crow, a direct descendant of Chief Big Foot, taught him at an early age how to craft his first bow. This sparked an interest in the Lakota tradition of creating functional artwork.
Traditionally the Lakota artwork consists of functional items that are then decorated to reflect events, visions, ceremonies, or battles. The work of Mike He Crow is based on these principles. It is reflected in his hand carved bows, choke cherry arrows, traditional flint knapped arrowheads, and Lakota cedar courting flutes. He works with obsidian, chert, and Knife River flint.
In additional to crafting bows, arrowheads, and flutes, Mike also makes parfleche storage bags, moccasins, spears, tomahawks, knife points, quill and beaded jewelry, and brain tanned hides. He finds choke cherry branches on his grandfather’s land in Oglala and his arrowheads are then fastened with sinew and hide glue, to a choke cherry branch that has been heated and straightened. He then paints a design with earth paint and attaches turkey tail feathers. The arrows are replicated in every detail using books and museum pieces as guides. These arrows are functional, and can either be used for hunting or displayed as pieces of art.
There will be free admission to Crazy Horse Memorial for those attending this education program, with a suggested donation of 3 cans of food per person for the KOTA Care & Share Food Drive. After the program please take the time to tour the complex and stay for the spectacular laser light show at dark.On August 20th Chris Ravens Head will present and demonstrate “Perspectives on Lakota Quillwork” during the 2009 Summer Performance & Lecture Series.
For more information about the free Thursday night Summer Performance & Lecture Series, contact Donovin Sprague at (605) 673-4681.