American Dreamer
Stephen Shooster’s “American Dreamer” depicts the story of The White Buffalo Calf Woman (Lakxótiyapi: Ptesánwin) who is the primary cultural prophet of the nation and considered sacred of supernatural origin. Oral traditions say she brought the “Seven Sacred Rites” to the Lakota peo- ple. In the painting, she is dreaming while being protected by the legendary white buffalo also a part of the Lakotah Indian creation story. The girl is dressed in cere- monial clothing made of natural deerskin with adornments of beads. She is well dressed like a princess. Her hair painted green blends into the landscape making her connect with with the land. Beside her is an animated flute and a buffalo skull. The painting depicts the circle of life from mythical to death and back again through the drumming of the big horn sheep into the moon. The whole composition is set in the paint - ed rocks of North Dakota otherwise known as the badlands, just outside of the The- odore Rosevelt National Park. The paint- ed rocks earned their name because of their horizontal striations which turn differ - ent colors depending on the time of day and weather. In the background stands an Indian dancing while holding a drum with the symbol of a big horn sheep. That drumming is causing the spirit of the big horn sheep to leap into the sky becoming the moon. The painting is full of symbolism. The flute snake represents the ability of humans to apply mythical perceptions on inanimate objects. The skull, death. The white buffa - lo, protection. The drummer now, and the big horn sheep head the future.
The painting’s use of color is striking. The reds, yellows, and raw sienna of the bad - lands are juxtaposed with the cerulean and cobalt blue of the sky. The colors are vibrant and alive. They help to create a sense of wonder and magic. Shooster’s painting can be compared to Henri Rousseau’s “Sleeping Gypsy.” Both paintings depict a young woman in a nat - ural setting with a large animal hovering over them without fear. Both paintings also use bold colors and simplified forms. However, Shooster’s painting is more complex and allegorical. The symbolism in Shooster’s painting is more sophisticat- ed, and the painting’s overall message is more nuanced. The painting’s setting, the badlands of North Dakota, is a place of great beau- ty and natural wonder but also a place of danger. The badlands got their name from covered wagons as they found that travel would be far less than ideal in those hills. The painting suggests that the natu- ral world is a source of both danger and hope. The painting’s use of symbolism is com- plex and nuanced. The flute snake, the buffalo skull, the Bighorn sheep, and the drummer all have multiple meanings. The painting invites the viewer to interpret its meaning on a deeper level. The White Buffalo Maiden is a sacred woman of supernatural origin, central to the Lakota religion as the primary cultur- al prophet. Oral traditions relate that she brought the “Seven Sacred Rites” to the Lakota people. Overall, “American Dreamer” is a signifi - cant work of art that is both visually arrest - ing and thought-provoking. The painting challenges the boundaries of traditional painting, and it offers a unique perspec- tive on the Lakota Indian Creation story. Shooster is a talented artist who is creat - ing work that is both beautiful and mean - ingful.
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