“Night Raid”
23" x 36" - Oils
 

This piece is a tribute to Wolf Trail, the artist’s father and the sacred horse bundles. Wolf Trail’s favorite horses were Blue Roan horses. Seven virtues depicted as Blue Roan war ponies are dispatched from the lodge of “The Chief that sits above”. Love, Compassion, Courage, Honor, Resiliency, Wisdom, and Faith. The large red stripe across the middle represents the bloodstream of humanity. These seven virtues are on a journey in the cover of darkness to bring their gifts to the (sáhniŝ) people. The Northern lights in each square are the spirits from the past that are lighting the way for the horses. Six faint feathers are symmetrically placed around the shield; these feathers are symbolic of the subtle life presence of the six directions.  The ribbons hanging from the feathers represent the male and the female.  The shield is marked with the handprint of the “Holy Father” (atíAx waaRUxti). The beaded horsehair coming from the handprint is the insignia of the Sacred Dog (the Horse Nation).

“Four Moons Passing”
30"x 40" - Oils
 

Four Moons Passing is a composition that surrounds its description around the rights of passage or stages of womanhood and the path with the creator. The four moons represent 4 stages of life, the new moon-conception, Crescent moon-childhood, Half moon-adulthood, Full moon-Grandmother. The Tree of life conveys to lineage of the past, present and the future of the foundations of our societies. The 4 leaves are the change of life. the Blue Buffalo is the spiritual and ceremonial representation the First Nation people, 28 markings on the skull are the cycle of spiritual cleansing. 6 directions are displayed by 6 squares. The curved white path is the path that leads to the the center of the creator and his radiance of love to the world. 2 very small spirit lights, 1 in the upper red protection color is the you and the other next to grandmother moon in the blue gentle color is your mother. 4 stripes are the artist's trademark to represent being one with creator.

“The Journey to the Lodge
of the Whistles”
23" x 36" - Oils

The Lodge or House of the Whistles, This is the Arikara translation for the Sundance Ceremony.“ The Arikara claim that this was a hard dance, for they had to dance four days and nights without eating or drinking.  Strikes Enemy (Arikara) danced this dance several times,” Murie. The Ceremony consisted of fasting, prayer, dancing and sacrifice for the benefit of the People. This depiction by Black Pinto Horse is of six horses (sacred dog) on a journey to the Lodge of the Whistles; each of them having unique parts to represent the people. The lead purple paint horse has one Eagle feather from its mouth - the one Truth. The Second Black Pinto Horse with the Red hand print on the shoulder - Touch the Enemy and surrounded by mystery. The Third Green Paint Horse with the shield marked by the buffalo is the strength and protection – spiritual growth. The Fourth Blue Paint Horse with the four feathers and the sign of lightning – from heaven and the elements from all four directions. The Fifth Green Paint Horse with the spear and two Eagle feathers – symbolize justice of the two worlds.  The Sixth Blue Paint Horse is the pure nature of innocence. All six Horses are marked on the nose with the four directions and a circle around their eyes to better see the enemy. The Bluish/Green diagonal Eagle feather with the red hand print on it represents the unbalance ness of our society as spiritual based people. The hand print is the ownership to our own unbalanced status and the responsibility to change this through prayer and sacrifice. The Tree of life represents both the enemy of this ceremony as well as the past, present and future nations. The Four Squares represent the directions and the small white dots are the pure nature of these directions. Spirit lights of the relatives that have passed on, shine on a biomorphic background of chaos as they pity us in this life.