January 10, 2011

YUYUNIPITIOANA "the shouting mountain" 3D Print

Yuyunipitqana is one of the names associated with Smohalla, a Native American Medicine Man of the Shahaptian Wanapum tribe of South Eastern Washington state. He lived in the time of Lewis and Clark. As the Wanapum became overrun by white settlers he taught a return to tribal lifestyles, traditions and beliefs that became the Dreamer Religion.

This picture represents Smohalla as a spirit conjuring traditional ways as represented by the horses. He pulls them up out of the modern landscape and he sees them through the modern ways.

Above the horses heads are the symbols for the mountains and the desert that they lived between, on the Columbia river (shown in the background).

This picture came about via a recent visit to the area. I started drawing what was around me as I learned the story. The early drawings became the lower landscape. The fun lower right with help from Liana :)

Currently there is an on-going massive cleanup in progress of the cold war nuclear reactors on the Columbia. This work drives much of the local economy.

18x24″ , 6 color screen print
signed/numbered edition of 79
all gone

Posted by John at January 10, 2011 9:31 AM