'Crazy Horse' by Jim Clark
Pine burl on hickory burl
11"H x 6"W x 6"D
Pine burl on hickory burl
11"H x 6"W x 6"D
The Story
Crazy Horse was a Lakota Sioux, known as a fearless warrior and inspirational leader. Not only was he skilled in battle, but he also displayed exemplary character and loyalty to his people. He set high standards for care of the elderly, the ill, the widowed and the children. He devoted his life to serving his people and preserving their culture. He died at age 35, stabbed in the back under a sign of truce. There are no known photographs or historically accurate likenesses of him.
My interpretation of Crazy Horse began on a trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota in the summer of 2000. My wife and I took off for a trip around the US in our Coleman pop-up camper. I was moved by the story of Crazy Horse and the dedication of the Ziolkowski family to spend several lifetimes building this monument to our Native American spirit. I found a small pine burl in our campground outside of Rapid City.
Limited by the number of tools I had with me, I began to whittle my vision of Crazy Horse with my pocket knife from the small pine burl. In some of the accounts of Crazy Horse, he was reported to have worn a Hawk on his head as he rode into battle.
The shawl of hickory burl was added later. I pick up this piece from time to time and contemplate various changes or improvements, but very little has occurred to date. To be continued as the Spirit moves…..
Crazy Horse was a Lakota Sioux, known as a fearless warrior and inspirational leader. Not only was he skilled in battle, but he also displayed exemplary character and loyalty to his people. He set high standards for care of the elderly, the ill, the widowed and the children. He devoted his life to serving his people and preserving their culture. He died at age 35, stabbed in the back under a sign of truce. There are no known photographs or historically accurate likenesses of him.
My interpretation of Crazy Horse began on a trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota in the summer of 2000. My wife and I took off for a trip around the US in our Coleman pop-up camper. I was moved by the story of Crazy Horse and the dedication of the Ziolkowski family to spend several lifetimes building this monument to our Native American spirit. I found a small pine burl in our campground outside of Rapid City.
Limited by the number of tools I had with me, I began to whittle my vision of Crazy Horse with my pocket knife from the small pine burl. In some of the accounts of Crazy Horse, he was reported to have worn a Hawk on his head as he rode into battle.
The shawl of hickory burl was added later. I pick up this piece from time to time and contemplate various changes or improvements, but very little has occurred to date. To be continued as the Spirit moves…..