Michael Gentry Art Card WITH THE WIND Native American Blackfeet Woman Warrior

Description

Michael Gentry
(1940 to 1994), is best remembered for his rich paintings of the Native American of the middle 1800's. Half Cherokee himself, it
was the Native American that captured his interest most powerfully, leading him to actually live on four reservations at different times during his
painting career: the San Carlos Apache Reservation, the Crow Indian Reservation, the Tulalip Indian Reservation and the Blackfoot Indian Reservation.
Mr. Gentry possessed a profound affection and undying fascination for each of the people and animals he portrayed. After a quarter of a century
of
painting, he was firmly dedicated to depicting to the world the beauty and character of each subject in unerring detail.
Mr. Gentry studied at
U.C.L.A.,
Laguna Beach School of Art, California, and had studied Animal Anatomy bone structure muscle tone and character traits of each animal.
Mr. Gentry's
studies carried him to Kenya, Tanzania and the Congo in Africa; to South America, Alaska, Mexico and most portions of the U.S. in search
of firsthand
reference and research regarding, not only the subjects he depicted, but also the terrain and homes in which the person or animal lived
and died.
He
had sketched and photographed literally thousands of subjects before applying oil to canvas.
Mr. Gentry's acceptance by the Blackfoot of Browning, Montana, was such that in 1988 the
tribes vice chairman invited him to be the official sketch
artist for a four day powwow that would recreate tribal life in the 1950's. A 12 hour sacred
Pipe Society ceremony was included in the powwow, something to which the white man was rarely, if ever, invited.
Though he was half Cherokee,
the Blackfoot still considered him to be a white man, so this invitation was particularly impressive.
In the mid-1800's, Pitamahkan (Running Eagle) rode the plains as a Blackfeet warrior - the only woman ever so honored.  Pitamahkan's legendary exploits began with her full acceptance by the male Blackfeet warriors after they learned of her vision.  This was highly unusual because the women of her tribe were forbidden to bear weapons.  She soon became a very successful and feared warrior.  Riding as a member of numerous war parties and horse raids, she often outperformed her male companions.  Pitamahkan's highest honor undoubtedly came with her unprecedented acceptance into the all male Brave Dogs Warrior Society.  It was here she actually received the name Pitamahkan in the most sacred Sundance lodge ceremony.  Today, the memory of Pitamahkan lives on near East Glacier, Montana.  This is where Trick Falls, in present day Two Medicine Lodges Lakes, was renamed Running Eagle Falls in 1981.
This is an advertising art card on heavy stock paper.  The printing method is offset lithograph.  The inside is blank.  The back side has advertising.
No envelope.
Measurement 9 w x 6" t
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