Monday, September 13, 2010

SHAMANIC faux postage STAMPS of the CONCOW MAIDU/ Artistamps from Maidem Kodom/ 'Sumi Maidem Kakini' by Eric Whollem/ A cyber cinderella stamp from the Chi Chi Te Printing House of the artist's Maidu micronation/ EARTH PAINTS




Sumi Maidem Kakini
Maidem Kodom
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist

Kodomyeponi

In the beginning of time everything first manifested in
Kodomyeponi, the Land of Shamans.

Nem Sumi was there. Sunflower Girl was there. Ultrama
and Henokano and Wonomi were there.

'Nem Sumi' is 'Big Deer.'  My version of Nem Sumi can be
seen on this stamp.

Tom Epperson, the Maidu storyteller, relates in detail the
story of creation in which these figures play important
roles.

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See my posts about the Maidu on this link:

My articles on Shamanism are on this link:

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Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps. Shamanism.

DEER MAN/ Shamanic faux postage stamps from MAIDEM KODOM/ 'Sumi Maidem Kakini' by Eric Whollem/ A CYBERSTAMP from artist stamp creations by Eric Whollem/. . . SPIRIT OF THE DEER MAN





Sumi Maidem Kakini
Maidem Kodom
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist

The Shaman's Role in Society
SPIRIT OF THE DEER MAN

This faux postage stamp features detail of a painting done in natural
earth paints.

Depicted is the artist's version of Nem Sumi, or Big Deer, from the
Concow Maidu creation story.

A Shaman is a medicine man, or doctor. Among Native Americans
they are tribal leaders, healers, priests, clowns and entertainers.
Each shaman has his own special role in society.

The Grizzly Bear Doctors, however, worked in ways that were feared.
The Black Bear Doctors of the Maidu are the opposite: respected
healers.

Concow Maidu doctors are representative of the Kuksu Dream Religion.
The head shaman is called Yeponi.


ORIGIN OF THE WORD, SHAMAN

The English word 'shaman' comes from Central Asian cultures. In
Central Asia 'samana' is the term used. Today this term has general
useage around the world. The French writer, Mircea Eliade, wrote
a pivotal work entitled, 'Shamanism,' which describes Russian studies
of Central Asian cultures, such as the Chuckchee, the Yakut, the Buriat,
and other shamanically based societies of the Altai region.

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Readers interested in my posts on Shamanism should view this link:

For posts about  Earth Paints see this link:

My posts about Kuksu can be seen here:

To see my general online posts of  Artistamps view:

My articles on the Maidu Indians can be found here:

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Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps. Shamanism. Maidu Indians. Earth paint.

SHAMANIC faux postage STAMPS of the CONCOW MAIDU/ Notes on Maidu Artists/ 'Sumi Maidem Kakini' by Eric Whollem/ A faux postage stamp from the Mooretown Provisional Post Office of Maidem Kodom/ Cinderella stamps by Whollem/ Earth Paints/ A CYBERSTAMP EDITION



Sumi Maidem Kakini
Maidem Kodom
2010
by Eric Whollem
copyright by the artist
Spirit of the Deer Man

This is a full sheet of four stamps from Maidem Kodom.
The words 'Sumi maidem kakini' roughly translate as
'deer people spirit' or 'spirit of the deer man.'

'Maidem' is the plural form of Maidu, which word means
'person' in the Concow Maidu language of Butte County,
California.

The art on this stamp is from a large painting I painted in
1976, entitled 'Alaya.' This painting contains over fifty
different earth paints that I gathered myself in nature.


FRANK DAY AND MAJOR MAIDU ARTISTS

The Concow Maidu have a tradition of earth painting.
Frank Day, the last of the old time tribal leaders, painted
in pigments he prepared from earth. A link below takes you
to a site with images of his works. Frank was born in Berry
Creek, California.

The Maidu have other major artists, influenced by Frank
Day: Delbert Castro, Harry Fonseca, and Judith Lowry.

There are many less known artists among the Concow 
Maidu, such as Diane Steidl, who paints impressionistically
and her brother Robert, who has a talent for modern abstract
art and stone carving.

Soapstone is a traditional medium of the Maidu. In Feather Falls
the best soapstone is gathered near the site of old Camp Eighteen.
This stone was used to make medicine bowls in the old days.


BASKETRY

Basketry is a major art form among the Maidu. Lily Baker of
Taylorsville is one of the leading practitioners of this art form.
Ennis of Taylorsville and Denise of Chico are others who work
in this medium. Ennis is also a fine beadworker. Lily and Ennis
are Mountain Maidu.

The Maidu are considered to be some of the finest basket makers
among Native American peoples.

Quilt making is a modern art form that has appealed to the artistic
mind of the Maidu. There are many fine old examples of Maidu
craftsmanship in this medium. Some of the patterns reflect the
geometric forms found in baskets.

My list of Concow and Mountain Maidu artists is far from
complete. These are basic notes on the subject.

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Readers interested in the work of Frank Day should check out this site:

To view my posts on the Maidu see this link:

My posts on the subject of Shamanism can be found here:

More of my Artist Stamps can be viewed here:

For my general posts on Indians see:

To read more about my approach to Earth Paints check out:


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Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, cyberstamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps. Earth paints. Shamanism; Indians.