As the singers released their stories, the dancers became visions only seen in dreams, and the my fears disappeared somewhere in the warm glowing fire that flickered light on faces so grateful to celebrate. I stood beneath my mother's red button blanket, and watched in wonderment.

I remember this being a scary place because there was a lot of the culture I had not learned about at such a young age. I didn’t know very much, but it was a magical thing for me. This is what I tried to illustrate in the expression of the child’s face.

This painting was inspired by a magazine photograph that provoked childhood memories of one of the first pow wows I had been to. This is not identical to the photograph, since a lot of the coats were different.

About the Original
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas / Image Size: 20" x 30 " / Created: 1999
Availability: Sold