Serigraph Image of a Plains Indian Fancy Dancer [SOLD]

During a time when it was difficult to make a living solely on the proceeds of sales of his paintings,  Woody Crumbo worked at a variety of endeavors. During his college years, he supported himself as a dancer, participating in the dances of tribes across the country. It was during this time he studied the details of the regalia of Kiowa, Crow, Creek and Sioux tribes. In addition to dancing, Crumbo was a musician who crafted his own flutes. His intimate knowledge of the music and dance of many tribes can be seen in the attention to detail in his images. Every bead, shell and feather is executed with careful precision. In order to achieve this detail, he would use up to sixteen different screens—a time consuming and tedious practice. Creating silkscreen prints and making multiple copies of an image allowed his work, which he considered important to honor his heritage, to be affordable to more people.  

This image of a Plains Indian Fancy Dancer is a testament to Crumbo’s meticulous attention to the details of every little element of shell, bead, feather and body paint. Wings constructed in shades of brown, tan and blue are attached to the painted arms of the dancer. Multi-hued beaded cuffs adorn the wrists and fur armbands rest on his shoulders. Necklaces made of beads, shell and bone are draped around his body. As a member of the Potawatomi Nation, Crumbo’s knowledge of Native dance and the dancers is apparent in every element of this silkscreen. The artist’s signature is screened into the bottom of the image.

Condition: The Serigraph Image of a Plains Indian Fancy Dancer is in like-new condition. It has been shrink wrapped, but not framed

Provenance: From a large New York collection.

Recommended Reading: Painting the Native World—Life, Land and Animals by Valerie Verzuh, et al.