Monday, September 12, 2011

CONCOW MAIDU RELIGION/ 'Kakini' and 'Kuksu and the Lamb' by Eric Whollem/ Earth paints on panel/ COLLECTION OF HERB PUFFER




KUKSU AND THE LAMB
1981
by Eric Whollem
earth pigmnents, charcoal, acrylic emulsion on panel
COLLECTION OF HERB PUFFER
Copyright by the artist




KAKINI
1981
by Eric Whollem
earth pigments in acrylic emulsion on panel
8" x 10"
COLLECTION OF HERB PUFFER
Copyright by the artist

CONCOW MAIDU RELIGION

The Concow Maidu Indians of Butte County, California, have a
very esoteric religion; it is based on a secret society. This was
a new concept in early California, to have an organized religion
based on mystery.

Kuksu is the name of the first man and also is the designation of
the Concow Maidu religion.

The secret society is a dream lodge. Practioners go through initiation
into the world of the dream. Dreams are the basis of foreknowledge
and wisdom. The head shaman is called 'yeponi.'

Spirit beings are referred to as the 'kakinim' (plural) by the Maidu.
A 'kakini,' as fancifully depicted in the painting above, is my own artistic
rendering of such a spirit. I purposely utilized a cross form for the
kakini, as the Maidu today are predominantly Christian. 'Kuksu and the
Lamb' similarly utilizes the cross form to indicate the predominant
spiritual inclination of the modern Maidu, who despite the shamanic
dream religion of their ancestors, have assimilated the ethic of the
European migrants who superimposed ways of thinking on their
archetypical culture.

These paintings are ones purchased by Herb Puffer, from Pacific Western
Traders in  Folsom, California. Mr. Puffer is one of the leading
promoters of the arts among the Native American cultures of
California. He invited me to exhibit at his establishment in Folsom
back in the 1980's, after I had shown a painting in the Crocker
Art Museum in Sacramento; that painting was entitled, 'Dance of
the Kuksu.' It appears in the video below:



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Earth Paints Video.                               

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