As I was looking through old photos, I thought today was a good day to recognize the breadth of art and beauty from the richness of our American cultural mix – and to celebrate the history of artistry in everyday objects and remind ourselves of the beauty and skill in the craft of the first inhabitants of our country.
Back in 2017 we did a big family road trip to South Dakota (look how little my kiddos are!!). We checked most of the boxes – the Badlands, Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore, etc. We also visited the Crazy Horse Memorial – which is still under construction to this day – conceived as a counterpoint to Mount Rushmore by the Lakota people to memorialize their history as the first peoples of South Dakota.
History lesson aside, I was inspired by the native artwork and garments on display – beaded dresses and purses, jewelry and especially David Miller's stunning portraits of "Custer Survivors." (Seriously, look up Miller's story, it's fascinating – he moved West at the age of 16, learned 14 Indian languages and spent his lifetime painting Native American portraits).
By the way, these aren't insta-pretty photos from our trip, just family vacation shots of things I found beautiful that touched me and made me think.
These garments – from indigenous artisans of early America and also more recent immigrants – are for me emblematic of what we mean when we say "melting pot." We celebrate the beauty of all these creations and will continue to look for ways to support and champion the work of all our country's cultural jewels.
