1880 Crow Peace Delegation: Peelatchiwaaxpáash/Medicine Crow (Raven), Peelatchixaaliash/Old Crow (Raven), Iichíilachkash/Long Elk, Déaxitchish/Pretty Eagle, Bia Eélisaash/Large Stomach Woman (Pregnant Woman) aka Two Belly, Alaxchiiaahush/Many War Achievements or Plenty Coups, aka Chíilaphuchissaaleesh/Buffalo Bull Facing The Wind
Wendy Red Star, 1880 Crow Peace Delegation: Peelatchiwaaxpáash/Medicine Crow (Raven), Peelatchixaaliash/Old Crow (Raven), Iichíilachkash/Long Elk, Déaxitchish/Pretty Eagle, Bia Eélisaash/Large Stomach Woman (Pregnant Woman) aka Two Belly, Alaxchiiaahush/Many War Achievements or Plenty Coups, aka Chíilaphuchissaaleesh/Buffalo Bull Facing The Wind, 2014, 10 inket prints and red ink on paper, Museum Purchase: Acquired with the assistance of The Ford Family Foundation and the Native American Art and Photography Funds, © Wendy Red Star, 2015.104.1a-j
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- Title
1880 Crow Peace Delegation: Peelatchiwaaxpáash/Medicine Crow (Raven), Peelatchixaaliash/Old Crow (Raven), Iichíilachkash/Long Elk, Déaxitchish/Pretty Eagle, Bia Eélisaash/Large Stomach Woman (Pregnant Woman) aka Two Belly, Alaxchiiaahush/Many War Achievements or Plenty Coups, aka Chíilaphuchissaaleesh/Buffalo Bull Facing The Wind
- Artist
- Related People
- Date
2014
- Medium
10 inket prints and red ink on paper
- Dimensions (H x W x D)
each image: 16 in x 11 in; each sheet: 16 15/16 in x 11 15/16 in
- Inscriptions & Markings
signature: [illeg.] 2015, ink, verso; bottom left
- Collection Area
Photography; Native American Art; Modern and Contemporary Art; Northwest Art
- Category
Plains
Photographs
- Object Type
photograph
drawing
- Culture
American
- Cultural Group
Crow
- Credit Line
Museum Purchase: Acquired with the assistance of The Ford Family Foundation and the Native American Art and Photography Funds
- Accession Number
2015.104.1a-j
- Copyright
© Wendy Red Star
- Terms
Listen to Wendy Red Star speak about this piece.
In 1880, American photographer Charles Milton Bell made portraits of honored members of the Crow tribe who traveled from Montana Territory to Washington, DC to sign a treaty with US government officials. Reproductions of these images, available for download from the Library of Congress website, circulate widely in popular culture and continue to reinforce visual stereotypes of Native Americans.
Red Star's interpretation of these photographs humanizes the static portrayal of the delegation through gentle humor and personal information about each sitter. She crafts a new script for the Crow delegation: With bold red ink she points out the rich symbolism of the men's attire and hair, important details about their family histories, and their honored status within Crow culture. Although documentary portraits like Bell's appear truthful and informative, Red Star's additions demonstrate the inability of a photograph to tell a complete story.
- Exhibitions
2016 Photography and Contemporary Experience Portland Art Museum