DANCE OF THE KUKSU
1985
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
21" x 18"
Collection of Herb Puffer
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST
THE BIG HEADS
The sacred dances of the Concow Maidu Indians of Northern
California include the Big Head dancers, who wear oversize
headdresses. These represent the spirits. Frank Day, the last of
the old time leaders of the Concow Maidu, was pivotal in
reestablishing the traditional dances of the people.
Frank Day was a great artist, making many of his paints from
natural pigments that he gathered himself.
The religion of the Maidu is called Kuksu, based on the legends
of the first man, Kuksu, who was born of mud on Table Mountain
above Oroville, California.
KAKINI
1985
by Eric Whollem
earth pigments in polymer emulsion on panel
8" x 10"
Collection of Herb Puffer
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST
The painting above is an earth painting by Eric Whollem,
made from earth colors ground in a mortar.
A 'kakini' is a spirit being. The Maidu word used here is linguistically
related to the Hopi 'kachina.'
The Maidu are said by some to be distant relatives of the Mayans
who migrated north.
__________________________
See more about KUKSU on these posts:
Concow Maidu Culture in the Art of Eric Whollem
See more of my EARTH PAINTINGS:
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