Wednesday, February 10, 2010

DANCE OF THE KUKSU/ Maidu Indian Religion: The Dream Lodge & the Crane Dance

                                 


                                
                                      Dance of the Kuksu
                                      1985
                                      by EricWhollem
                                      watercolor and plastic emulsion and wax resist on paper
                                      Collection of the artist.
                                      9" x 6"
                                      Copyright by the artist.


The Dream Religion of the Maidu Indians of California

This painting is a thumbnail of a larger work that was exhibited at the
Crocker Art Museum in the Crocker-Kingsley Show in 1986 in
Sacramento California.

The painting was bought by Herb Puffer of Pacific Western Traders
in Folsom, California. Mr. Puffer is a patron of Caliornia Indian art,
having helped tribal groups sustain traditonal dances, and supporting
the artists and craftsmen among them. He respected the fact that I had
interacted with Maidu cultural leaders in addition to making paints from
natural earth pigments in accordance with old traditions of painting.
Although I am not Maidu, I am friend of a Maidu family, having lived
off and on at Chi Chi Te, a Maidu village, for thirty-five years.


CONCOW MAIDU LORE IN THE PAINTINGS OF ERIC WHOLLEM


BIG HEADS

The Kuksu Religion is a dream-based metaphysical movement. Dreams
are considered the source of wisdom and foreknowledge. The best
dreamers among the people rise to become tribal leaders. Dreams are
netdim. Those who are dream doctors are netdim maidem.
 
Special power dreams dreamed at special dreaming places are the
basis of initiation as a warrior.

The Big Heads are so-named because they are dancers with huge
masks. They are featured in sacred dances of the Kuksu. The Big
Heads are related to the Kakinim, or spirits. The Saltu are another
order of spirit being. The word Kakinim is related to the Hopi word
Kachina.


CONCOW MAIDU RELIGION


REED BOATS

The Maidu were originally reed boat builders and are distant relatives
of the Mayans. Thor Heyerdahl made reed boats famous after his
legendary Kon Tiki Expedition out of Peru--and also his Ra Expedition
with a reed boat built of Egyptian papyrus that sailed across the Atlantic
Ocean. The Indians of the Tule Lake area north of Mt. Shasta and
various coastal tribes were also reed boat Indians of California.

Kuksu himself was the Maidu Adam. His wife, Morningstar, was the
Maidu Eve. They were born on Table Mountain above Oroville,
California. The Kuksu religion began in Oroville and spread to tribes
as far north as Mt. Shasta and as far south as Yosemite.

Some of the dancers in the sacred ceremonies wore fishing nets.
Such a net can be seen in the painting above. A sacred clown
named Sili wore mud plastered over his body; raven feathers
were placed in the fishing net that he wore.


CONCOW MAIDU CULTURE IN THE ART OF ERIC WHOLLEM

THE CRANE DANCE

The crane dance is one important dance of the Kuksu dance cycle.
The crane dance is an archetypical dance and forms of it are found
in cultures around the world. The ancient Greeks called the crane
dance the Geranos. Marija Gimbutas, the anthropologist, said that
the movements in the crane dance are the basis of patterns found in
the form of the labyrinth. The Huichol Indians of Mexico also have
a crane dance.

The Maidu call the crane wukwuk or doritu. Crane feathers form
the cloak of Moki, the highest spirit in the Hesi dance cycle. Aki,
the duck, rules many of the dances in the Hesi group.

_____________________

See my posts about the Maidu Indians on this link:

See my posts on the topic of the Kuksu Religion on this link:


*
Maidu Indians, mythology, anthropology, abstract art, dreaming, Marija Gimbutas, Geranos, crane dance.
FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION.

*

FLOWERS AMONG THE STONES/ A Visionary Mixed Media Painting/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION

                                


                                      Flowers Among the Stones
                                      1985
                                      by Eric Whollem
                                      watercolor and parafin resist on paper
                                      Collection of the artist
                                     15' x 20 5/8"
                                         Copyright by the artist.

The Goddess From Out the Rocky Cleft
Encourages the Flowers Among the Stones

The 1980's was a decade marked by advances in social
thinking. "The Goddess" was discovered for the first time
by many.

THUNDER PRAYER/ A Shamanic Prayer For Rain/ Mixed Media Painting/ FIGURATIVE ABSTRACTION

                                 


                                          Thunder Prayer
                                          1984
                                          by Eric Whollem
                                          gouache and wax resist on paper
                                          Collection of the artist.
                                          9" x 6"
                                                  Copyright by the artist.

THE BLESSING OF RAIN

Thunder Prayer is a work created in a synthesis of Native
American pictographs and modern art. Shown is an Indian
shaman, or medicine man, praying for the end of drought.

THE ABORIGINAL TRIAD/ Expressionism in Art: Watercolor Painting/ NEOPRIMITIVISM

                                        


                                    
                                       The Aboriginal Triad
                                       1987
                                        by Eric Whollem
                                       gouache on paper
                                       Collection of the artist
                                       16 " x 11 7/8'
                                                                                          Copyright by the artist.

NEOPRIMITIVISM

This painting, "The Aboriginal Triad"  is an "Australoid"
fantasy. Painted with thick watercolor paint called gouache,
light colors over dark, it bears a measure of resemblance
to Aboriginal art.