24″ H. X 16″ W.

On December 21, 1886, (133 years ago) the last time the full moon on the winter solstice occurred, an officer in the United States Army in South Dakota was killed with his company of eighty men. He had boasted that with a company of men he could ride through the whole Sioux Nation. He underestimated the prowess of the Lakota warriors.

A young man named Crazy Horse devised a plan to get the company of men to chase him and three friends. The boys pretended that one of them was hurt and needed the others to carry him. The men gave chase. Every time it seemed the Indians were about to be caught, they would put on a burst of speed and narrowly escape. Eventually, the boys lured the men between two hills in a narrow valley. Red Cloud and Gall were waiting with many other warriors and the army was rubbed out. For a time after that, the war between the Sioux and America became quiet.

On December 22, 1999, the full moon was on the winter solstice. Since a full moon on the winter solstice occurs in conjunction with a lunar perigee (the point in which the moon’s orbit is closer to the Earth) the moon appeared 14% larger than it does at opogee(the point at which it’s eliptical orbit is farthest from the earth). The Earth was also several million miles closer to the sun at this time of the year causing sunlight striking the moon to be about 7% stronger, making it brighter. This was a natural phenomenon, which will only occur once in a lifetime–what a powerful way to realize the limitless possibilitiesof a new millenium!

19″ H. X 12″ W.

Sage is considered a sacred plant by indigenous people–smudging through burning of the sage plant creates a smoke which is used for a cleansing and purification of the spirit. This burnished urn includes the ancient spiral symbol of fertility and exponentiality that ones’ life creates.

The intention of the ghost dancers show a whimsical portrayal of their dance inside the vessel which captures the spirit of the buffalo rising after falling from a cliff.

22″ H. X 16.5″ W.

Advanced bone tools and bone art developed in Europe about 40,000 years ago. Archeologist’s consider bone working a marker in modern human behavior. The bone awl enabled humans to sew hides, work clothing and thrive in cooler climates.

Coeur d’Alene translation and namesake came from the French and Indian trades which took place in Coeur d’Alene. It is said the French traders were so shrewd and heartless with their trading that the Indians said their heart was so small it could fit through the eye of an awl. This gave Coeur d’Alene its translation–”Heart of the Awl”.

26"H x 9"W

Bronze Vessel