“Most Americans are totally unaware there is a great indigenous native American Art. But when you walk into such museums as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Chicago Art Institute and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. and you sometimes see Oscar Howe’s paintings hanging alongside such masters such as Picasso, Gauguin, Van Gogh, you have to be impressed . . . I think Oscar Howe’s accomplishments prove beyond question that American Indians can achieve greatness in whatever field they choose– and that his life is an inspiration to all young Indians and to young people everywhere that they too, can reach whatever goal they set themselves.”
My attraction to American Indian “flat art” was initiated in 1975 while part of a research team assembled under the auspices of the National Science Foundation. While a graduate student at Southern Methodist University, my team was situated in Taos, New Mexico to study the Impact of Tourism on Taos. A painting by Beatien Yazz stole my attention. I was smitten then and remain so.
It is nice to read that Vincent Price too shared my respect for one of most accomplished heroes of this field, Oscar Howe. Even more so, I am honored by the opportunity to offer Mr. Howe’s work to the next generation of collectors to applaud his work.
