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Oscar
Howe's Timeline
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Two South Dakota educators and a Minneapolis-based graphic-designer
have teamed up to tell the story of the great Dakota artist Oscar
Howe, with the new children's book Native
American Master Artist: Oscar Howe.
Lois Sayre, a retired teacher, and Lisa Vande Vegte Dresch,
an art teacher at Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls, met while
working in the arts at the Washington Pavilion. They first discussed
the idea of writing a children's book about the life and art of
Oscar Howe in 2006, after they witnessed the impact an exhibit of
his art had on school children.
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A
sample page from Native American Master Artist: Oscar Howe.
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There were detours and stalls along the way, but after nearly
a decade, the book the first children's book about Oscar
Howe has come to fruition, with reproductions of original
Howe paintings and graphics by Minneapolis graphic designer Marnie
Teppen. The book tells the story of the artist from his upbringing
on the Crow Creek reservation where, though poor, he was
taught the rich traditions and stories of his Dakota heritage that
became lifelong themes in his art through his art education
at the Santa Fe Indian School, his WWII service, family life, and
his long and distinguished career as an artist and educator.
Sidebars throughout the book give children history lessons on
historic Native American figures and on words in the Lakota language.
One of the goals of the project was to create a resource for the
state-required 4th grade South Dakota History curriculum. Since
the book was printed, the authors have personally donated over 200
books to South Dakota public schools.
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Another
sample page from Native American Master Artist: Oscar Howe.
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"As a painter myself, I am amazed at [Howe's] ability to take
the simple tools of a brush and some water-based paint and make
images so crisp and vibrant. Even though a painting is essentially
a still, flat surface, Oscar could somehow make it look like the
subject was moving. There is an excitement to Oscar's paintings,"
says co-author Lisa Vande Vegte Dresch. "Another thing I value is
his character. He had many situations happen to him in his life
that would have made many people give up. But he didn't."
"My first impression of an Oscar Howe painting is wow!"
says Lois Sayre "Such rhythm, the viewer can hear and feel the rhythm
and chanting; such bold, exciting colors; such movement dancing
feet, fringe and hair flowing; such story-telling
I marvel
at Oscar's blending of two cultures."
Native American Master Artist: Oscar Howe is available now on
Amazon.
If you are interested in sponsoring a school, so that kids can
experience Native American Master Artist: Oscar Howe, please call
(605) 338-4898.
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