W. Richard West Sr.: Difference between revisions
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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'''Dick West''', as he was commonly known, was born on September 8, 1912 in a [[tipi]] near the Darlington Agency in Oklahoma. His father was Lightfoot West.<ref name=ohs/> West's mother was Rena Flying Coyote, also known as Emily Black Wolf, whose parents were Big Belly Woman and Thunder Bull. West's Cheyenne name, '''Wapah Nahyah''' means "Lightfooted Runner."<ref name=les>Lester, 607</ref> |
'''Dick West''', as he was commonly known, was born on September 8, 1912, in a [[tipi]] near the Darlington Agency in Oklahoma. His father was Lightfoot West.<ref name=ohs/> West's mother was Rena Flying Coyote, also known as Emily Black Wolf, whose parents were Big Belly Woman and Thunder Bull. West's Cheyenne name, '''Wapah Nahyah''' means "Lightfooted Runner."<ref name=les>Lester, 607</ref> |
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West attended [[Concho Indian Boarding School]] and then [[Haskell Institute]] in [[Lawrence, Kansas]], when it was still a high school. West graduated from high school in 1935.<ref name=ohs/> One of his earliest artistic mentors was the [[Arapaho]] painter, [[Carl Sweezy]].<ref name=w288>Wyckoff, 288</ref> |
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From 1936 to 1938, West attended [[Bacone College]] in [[Muskogee, Oklahoma]],<ref name=ohs/> where he earned an AA degree.<ref name=les/> At Bacone, West studied under the celebrated [[Muscogee (Creek)|Muscogee]]-[[Pawnee people|Pawnee]]-[[Wichita (tribe)|Wichita]] artist, [[Acee Blue Eagle]].<ref name=ohs/> As a young man, West played football and worked in oil fields.<ref name=w288/> |
From 1936 to 1938, West attended [[Bacone College]] in [[Muskogee, Oklahoma]],<ref name=ohs/> where he earned an AA degree.<ref name=les/> At Bacone, West studied under the celebrated [[Muscogee (Creek)|Muscogee]]-[[Pawnee people|Pawnee]]-[[Wichita (tribe)|Wichita]] artist, [[Acee Blue Eagle]].<ref name=ohs/> As a young man, West played football and worked in oil fields.<ref name=w288/> |
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At the [[University of Oklahoma]], West earned a BFA degree in 1941 and an MFA degree in 1950. While at OU, he studied under the Swedish artist Oscar Jacobson who mentored the [[Kiowa |
At the [[University of Oklahoma]] (OU), West earned a BFA degree in 1941 and an MFA degree in 1950. While at OU, he studied under the Swedish artist [[Oscar Jacobson]], who mentored the [[Kiowa Six]]. West felt that Jacobson's active support of Native Americans helped him cope with widespread racial prejudice that he encountered in Norman.<ref name=w288/> |
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In 1941 |
In 1941 and 1942, West moved to [[Phoenix, Arizona]], where he studying mural painting under [[Olle Nordmark]], a Swedish sculptor. West then continued his post-graduate studies at [[Northeastern State University]], [[University of Tulsa]], and [[Redlands College]].<ref name=ohs/> |
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In 1940, West married Maribelle McCrea. In 1970, he married his second wife, Rene Wagoner. He had two sons, [[W. Richard West Jr.]] and James Lee West.<ref name=ohs/> |
In 1940, West married Maribelle McCrea. In 1970, he married his second wife, Rene Wagoner. He had two sons, [[W. Richard West Jr.]] and James Lee West.<ref name=ohs/> |
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==Teaching career== |
==Teaching career== |
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In 1941, West began his first teaching assignment at the [[Phoenix Indian School]] but then joined the [[US Navy]] to fight in Europe in [[World War II]] from 1942 to 1946. Upon his honorable discharge, West returned to teaching at the Phoenix Indian School, then chaired the art department at Bacone College from 1947 to 1970. From 1970 to 1977, West taught art at [[Haskell Indian Junior College]]. From his teaching he influenced innumerable Native artists. His students included such successful artists as [[Joan Hill]], [[Enoch Kelly Haney]], [[ |
In 1941, West began his first teaching assignment at the [[Phoenix Indian School]] but then joined the [[US Navy]] to fight in Europe in [[World War II]] from 1942 to 1946. Upon his honorable discharge, West returned to teaching at the Phoenix Indian School, then chaired the art department at Bacone College from 1947 to 1970. From 1970 to 1977, West taught art at [[Haskell Indian Junior College]]. From his teaching, he influenced innumerable Native artists. His students included such successful artists as [[Joan Hill]], [[Enoch Kelly Haney]], [[Johnny Tiger Jr/]], [[Sharron Ahtone Harjo]], [[Marlene Riding In-Mameah]], and [[Virginia Stroud]]. |
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From 1979 to 1980, West served as professor emeritus at Bacone College.<ref name=ohs/> |
From 1979 to 1980, West served as professor emeritus at Bacone College.<ref name=ohs/> |
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==Artwork== |
==Artwork== |
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Dick West was a master of |
Dick West was a master of flat-style painting, that drew upon the pictorial and narrative aspects of Plains hide painting. Flat style painting frequently portrays tribal dances and histories.<ref name=ohs/> His works portrayed Cheyenne culture, as informed by his highly traditional upbringing. |
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A complete departure from that style was West's ''Indian Christ'' series, which were lush, allegorical oil paintings of [[New Testament]] stories with Native American figures, set in the Southern Plains. Through this series, West wanted to portray the universality of [[Jesus]].<ref name=ohs/> |
A complete departure from that style was West's ''Indian Christ'' series, which were lush, allegorical oil paintings of [[New Testament]] stories with Native American figures, set in the Southern Plains. Through this series, West wanted to portray the universality of [[Jesus]].<ref name=ohs/> |
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Although flat |
Although flat-style is what he is best known for, West also painted abstract and highly stylized works<ref name=ohs/> in oil, watercolor, tempera, and gouache. He illustrated four books and also sculpted in wood and metal.<ref name=les/> |
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==Awards and honors== |
==Awards and honors== |
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Revision as of 23:27, 3 January 2018
Walter Richard "Dick" West Sr. (1912–1996) was a Southern Cheyenne painter, sculptor, and educator from Oklahoma[1] and an honored member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes.
Background
Dick West, as he was commonly known, was born on September 8, 1912, in a tipi near the Darlington Agency in Oklahoma. His father was Lightfoot West.[1] West's mother was Rena Flying Coyote, also known as Emily Black Wolf, whose parents were Big Belly Woman and Thunder Bull. West's Cheyenne name, Wapah Nahyah means "Lightfooted Runner."[2]
West attended Concho Indian Boarding School and then Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas, when it was still a high school. West graduated from high school in 1935.[1] One of his earliest artistic mentors was the Arapaho painter, Carl Sweezy.[3]
From 1936 to 1938, West attended Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma,[1] where he earned an AA degree.[2] At Bacone, West studied under the celebrated Muscogee-Pawnee-Wichita artist, Acee Blue Eagle.[1] As a young man, West played football and worked in oil fields.[3]
At the University of Oklahoma (OU), West earned a BFA degree in 1941 and an MFA degree in 1950. While at OU, he studied under the Swedish artist Oscar Jacobson, who mentored the Kiowa Six. West felt that Jacobson's active support of Native Americans helped him cope with widespread racial prejudice that he encountered in Norman.[3]
In 1941 and 1942, West moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he studying mural painting under Olle Nordmark, a Swedish sculptor. West then continued his post-graduate studies at Northeastern State University, University of Tulsa, and Redlands College.[1]
In 1940, West married Maribelle McCrea. In 1970, he married his second wife, Rene Wagoner. He had two sons, W. Richard West Jr. and James Lee West.[1]
Teaching career
In 1941, West began his first teaching assignment at the Phoenix Indian School but then joined the US Navy to fight in Europe in World War II from 1942 to 1946. Upon his honorable discharge, West returned to teaching at the Phoenix Indian School, then chaired the art department at Bacone College from 1947 to 1970. From 1970 to 1977, West taught art at Haskell Indian Junior College. From his teaching, he influenced innumerable Native artists. His students included such successful artists as Joan Hill, Enoch Kelly Haney, Johnny Tiger Jr/, Sharron Ahtone Harjo, Marlene Riding In-Mameah, and Virginia Stroud.
From 1979 to 1980, West served as professor emeritus at Bacone College.[1]
Artwork
Dick West was a master of flat-style painting, that drew upon the pictorial and narrative aspects of Plains hide painting. Flat style painting frequently portrays tribal dances and histories.[1] His works portrayed Cheyenne culture, as informed by his highly traditional upbringing.
A complete departure from that style was West's Indian Christ series, which were lush, allegorical oil paintings of New Testament stories with Native American figures, set in the Southern Plains. Through this series, West wanted to portray the universality of Jesus.[1]
Although flat-style is what he is best known for, West also painted abstract and highly stylized works[1] in oil, watercolor, tempera, and gouache. He illustrated four books and also sculpted in wood and metal.[2]
Awards and honors
The Section of Painting and Sculpture commissioned West to paint a mural for the U.S. Post Office of Okemah, Oklahoma in 1941.[4] He won two grand awards from the Philbrook Museum.[1] In 1964, he won the Waite Phillips Outstanding Indian Artist Award from the Philbrook Museum of Art.
In 1962, the Eastern Baptist College awarded him an honorary doctorates in humane letters, as did the Baker University, in 1976. From 1979-80, West was a commissioner on the Indian Arts and Crafts Board.
Public collections
West's work can be found in the following public art collections:
- Bacone College
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Denver Art Museum
- Eastern Baptist College, St. David's, PA
- Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
- The George Gustav Heye Center
- Gilcrease Museum
- Indian Arts and Crafts Board, US Department of the Interior
- Joslyn Art Museum
- Koshare Indian Museum
- Museum of Northern Arizona, Katherine Harvey Collection
- Muskogee Art Guild, OK
- National Gallery of Art
- Philbrook Museum of Art
- St. Augustine's Center, Chicago, IL
- Seminole Public Library, OK
- Southern Plains Indian Museum
- University of Oklahoma, Library[2]
Death
Dick West died on May 3, 1996.[1]
Quote
[T]he Indian artist must be allowed freedom to absorb influences outside of his own art forms and see the promise of a new lane of expression that should keep the Indian's art the art form termed 'native Indian painting,' and I give my student every opportunity to execute it... I have always felt that the term abstraction has been a part of the Indian's artistic thinking longer than most European contemporary influences and perhaps in a [truer] form..." —Dick West, 1955[5]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Jones, Ruthe Blalock. West, Walter Richard Sr. (1812–1996). Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. (3 Nov 2009)
- ^ a b c d Lester, 607
- ^ a b c Wyckoff, 288
- ^ "Post Office Mural – Okemah OK". Living New Deal. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
- ^ Wyckoff, 287
References
- Lester, Patrick D. The Biographical Directory of Native American Painters. Norman and London: The Oklahoma University Press, 1995. ISBN 0-8061-9936-9.
- Wyckoff, Lydia L., ed. Visions and voices : Native American painting from the Philbrook Museum of Art. Tulsa, OK: Philbrook Museum of Art, 1996. ISBN 0-86659-013-7.
External links
- Walter Richard West, on AskArt with images
- 1970s KTUL sign-off: Indian sign language, Walter Richard "Dick" West performing "Lord's Prayer" using sign language, from Channel 8's nightly signoff in the 1970s via YouTube