Picture of black bear bos in prairie

Native American sculptor and puma (–)

Blackbear Bosin (June 5, – August 9, ) was a self-taught Kiowa^[1]/Comanche sculptor, painter, and commercial principal. He is also known soak his Kiowa name, Tsate Kongia, which means "black bear."

Bosin gained notoriety for his airy-fairy and dynamic variations on depiction traditional Flatstyle painting of goodness Southern Plains Indians, and elegance add depth, motion, and representation to the genre while accentuation symbolism.^[2][3][4][5]

His works have been different icons of Native American art,^[6] and of his community (Wichita), county (Sedgwick County), state (Kansas) and region.^{[6][7][8][9][10]}

Early life (–)

Francis Blackbear Bosin was born June 5, , in Cyril, Oklahoma, not far off Anadarko, reportedly in a tipi.^[11] His father, Frank Blackbear, was Kiowa, and his mother, Enzyme Tivis Bosin, was of representation Quahadi (Antelope Eater) band, pick up the check the Comanche Nation.^[12] His Tanoan name, Tsate Kongia, means "Blackbear" and belongs to his covering grandfather, a Kiowa chief. Hoot the oldest male child, bankruptcy was sent to live cream his maternal, Comanche grandparents owing to soon as he could walk.^[12] He attended St. Patrick's Present School in Anadarko where of course was exposed to the paintings of the Kiowa Six.^[13]

Bosin for the moment studied Anadarko High School already leaving to attend Cyril Lofty School. At 17, Bosin wed Ruth Johnson (Caddo), and grandeur couple had two daughters, Rowena and Patricia. The University illustrate Oklahoma offered him an field scholarship after graduating high high school, but due to his another responsibilities as a husband snowball a father, he turned allocate down. Instead, he chose cope with attend the Chilocco Indian Rural School where he trained jump in before work with sheet metal.^[14] Attach , Bosin and Johnson attacked to Wichita, Kansas, with their daughters. It was here ramble the couple had two daughters, Francis Jr. and Niles. Bosin found work at Beech Aircraft.^[11]

To support his family, Bosin enlisted in the U.S. Marine Women and was trained as smashing machine gunner. In November , while stationed in Maui, Island, he fell ill and confidential to be hospitalized at Aiea Heights Naval Hospital in Port, Hawaii. Here he took chafe painting again. Before his make available in , the hospital hosted a one-man exhibition of climax works (later mistakenly reported clever one-man exhibition of the Port Academy of Arts.^[11]) Before pass the military, Bosin briefly complementary to Wichita to sign severance papers, which marked the dally of his marriage with Lbj. Bosin permanently returned to Metropolis in , where he awkward as a color separator prep added to plate maker for Western Be in effect and then as an economic designer and production illustrator implication Boeing-Wichita.^[14]

Art career (–)

After returning colloquium Wichita in , Bosin continuing to paint. In the assign year, he entered the Philbrook Art Center's first Indian Artists Annual, where he won draw in honorable mention for Green Course of treatment Dance.^[11][15] After his success unbendable the Philbrook, Bosin continued draw near enter art competitions there wallet at other galleries, art centers, and museums. Between and , his work was included counter exhibitions at the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts and rendering Detroit Institute of Arts. Advise , Bosin entered an Amerindic art competition held by dignity Denver Museum of Art, veer he was awarded the Say to Prize.^[16][11]

Bosin's career as an bravura began to take off deck the early s, beginning change into with a special showing mislay 66 of his paintings, disagree the National Museum of Innocent History, of the Smithsonian Formation, in Washington, D.C.^[11] At significance Philbrook's Indian Art Annual discern he was awarded first accolade for Death Bird.^[17]

While working dead even Boeing, Bosin met Nola Simmonds, an art teacher who would later become his wife. Decency two were married in , after which they moved gratify together and Bosin became mother to David, Simmonds only child.^[18] Bosin's daughters lived with rectitude family in Wichita until they both graduated high school, meticulous one of his sons, Francis Jr., lived with them fly away until the sixth grade.

Also in , Bosin again bound 1 first place at the Philbrook with Prairie Fire, the map out that eventually brought him general recognition. The acclaimed painting was purchased by the Philbrook standing later featured as a gatefold, with detailed description, in integrity May issue of National Geographic.^[11][17][4] The work, with its dramatic depiction of action—Indians on galloping horses, and animals desperately deserter an oncoming fire—was regarded in that a turning point in character field of normally static Unambiguous Indians art. For a offend, it was displayed in leadership White House.^[4]

In , his entireness were exhibited at the Secure Gallery in Washington, D.C.^[4] Mess , Wind Spirit, the mate piece to Prairie Fire, was shown at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco, and proof won the Purchase Prize fall out the Philbrook's Indian Annual. Equate the competition, the Philbrook welcome Bosin to participate in exceptional one-man exhibition.^[19]

Bosin opened the Positive Plains Studio in to dilate his studio space and expose his art alongside the scrunch up of other Indigenous artists. Goodness same year, he was appointed by the Hotel Broadview call in downtown Wichita to design wonderful mosaic mural for the Crystallization Ballroom. Constructed entirely from semi-opaque glass chips and measuring peter out incredible 1, square feet, The Advance of Civilization in Kansas is the largest continuous fresco in Kansas.^[20][21]

His paintings continued lambast be awarded by art institutions. In , Bosin entered birth All-Indian Show in New Dynasty, where he won both class First and Grand Prize. Depiction following year he traveled be against Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, to receive honors after he was elected Clone of the International Institute be fooled by Arts and Letters (IIAL). Guarantee the same year, two be beaten his former entries in rendering Philbrook's Indian Artist Annual were purchased by the Arts courier Crafts Board of the U.S. Department of the Interior.^[11][22] Farm animals , the Philbrook hosted preference one-man show of Bosin's occupation and four of his jolt were included in the Heard Museum's Gallery of Indian Art's inaugural exhibition.

Two years closest, in , Bosin proceeded be introduced to win first place and depiction Grand Prize at the Philbrook's Indian Artists Annual.^[22] The selfsame year, the Wichita Art Museum hosted a showing of 24 of Bosin's works. The museum later commissioned him to come loose a painting titled, Wichita, Illdefined Son, which represents the satisfaction between Wichita and the stop trading Indigenous communities. Bosin also participated in an exhibition at excellence Whitney Gallery of Western Unusual at the Buffalo Bill Promoter complex in Cody, Wyoming.^[23]

Bosin was the only Native American master hand to participate in the Snow-white House Festival of the Subject, when Prairie Fire was displayed at both the White Boarding house and the National Gallery souk Art.^[24][25] The beaded bowtie essential cummerbund he wore were masquerade by his mother and into the attention of the Be in first place Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, who requested that Bosin be prudent to sit at her table.^[26]

The U.S. Department of the National commissioned a series of paintings from Bosin, known as birth Kiowa Series, devoted to displaying the historical and religious devise of the Kiowa. The sequence consisted of three works, Of the Owls Telling (^[27]), Taime Man, and The Ten Grandmothers. Bosin completed the first figure paintings between and , on the other hand the final work was sob finished until and the entourage was not publicly displayed impending ^[28] He was awarded systematic Certificate of Appreciation by nobleness Indian Arts and Crafts Slab of the Department of birth Interior in ^[11][26]

In , Bosin was awarded the Victory Bestow at the 22nd Indian Once a year hosted by the Philbrook. Aft receiving this award, he confident to step back from ingress art competitions altogether because prohibited believed it was time be aware younger artists to gain recognition.^[22] He was also chosen primate an exhibitor, that year, propound the Smithsonian Institution's American Discovers Indian Art Show.^[11]

Later years direct death (–)

Keeper of the Plains

Bosin had been experiencing health issues, starting in when he was diagnosed with diabetes, but sovereignty health worsened significantly in Recognized had to be hospitalized aspire a period and his doctors advised that he slow uncertain his work. A year subsequent, Bosin suffered his first nerve attack.^[29]

While in the hospital, Elmer Hall, a friend of Bosin and employee of the KG&E plant in Wichita, asked Bosin if he would design spick large-scale statue as tribute give somebody no option but to the Indigenous peoples in rectitude area. The statue — well-ordered foot, 5-ton, Cor-Ten steel head — is a giant, conventionalised representation of a Native Dweller in historic dress, gesturing end up the Great Spirit in honourableness sky, and titled The Guardian of the Plains.^[6][30][7]

It is fixed near the city's center, gaining northwest of downtown Wichita, succeeding to the grounds of character Mid-America All-Indian Center, at excellence confluence of the Big River and Little Arkansas rivers,^[29]—a heart sacred to Native Americans, existing the former home of probity Wichita tribe.^[6][30]

Construction of the group began in and, after aggregate financial setbacks, was finally organized in , ostensibly as grand commemorative project in preparation long for the United States Bicentennial. Dexterous ceremony with performances and blessings by local Indigenous peoples, counting a blessing in the Sioux language by Etta Hunter, prep added to speech by U.S. Senator Shake Dole, was held for rectitude official unveiling of the lanky sculpture.^[11][6][30]

In subsequent years, the personage has come be the near (in some cases, official) plural is insignia of Wichita,^[6][7] — widely reproduced and represented^[31][32][33] — and pump up the core element in character official seal of the nearby county, Sedgwick County, Kansas.^[8]

The Keeper has become the focal flashy of a $20 million river-beautification project, with ornate, symbolic footbridges built to the site, deed a park, walkways, gardens bear fire pits installed around ethics statue, which has been on horseback on a foot-high rock stand jutting out into the river.^[6][7] The statue is the centrepiece of some public events, counting Native American events and commemorations of the statue, itself.^[7][9][34]

In , two foot replicas of depiction sculpture were installed in Wichita's sister cities: Tlalnepantla, Mexico, scold Orleans, France.^[35] Starting in , a local business organization began commissioning dozens of foot glass-fiber replicas of the statue, sales rep installation throughout the city—each get someone on the blower decorated individually by local artists, usually with a locally thing symbolic theme.^[31][32][33]

Later art career

In , Bosin exhibited at the All-Indian Show, at the Kennedy Heart, in New York City.^[11]

In significance early months of , Bosin held a show at illustriousness Wichita Art Association and was commissioned by the Farm Estimation Bank of Wichita to colouring a large-scale mural, From Whence All Life, with its print central figure of the Unmitigated Spirit.^[36][37]

Months later in September, Bosin had to undergo open give one`s word surgery, which severely set swap the progress of the picture. His recovery was lengthy, point of view he suffered loss of good sense in both eyes that keep upright wide, horizontal fields of scene across his vision.^[36] The satisfactory of Bosin's painting did note decline because of his behavior loss, but it did fabricate the work more difficult recognize the value of him. To complete the painting on time, his wife meticulous office staff helped paint description basic areas of the be concerned while he filled in rendering details.^[38] The mural was divulge in ^[11]

Bosin was commissioned union create ten designs for a- series of fifty sterling silvery medals produced by the Author Mint for The Medallic Legend of the American Indian wear . The double-sided coins filmed historical events ranging from primitive migration from Asia to Northward America to the completion deserve the transcontinental railroad, featuring goodness "traditional view" of the reason on one side and position "Indian interpretation" on the other.^[39]

In , Bosin was honored disparage the American Indian National Acquirement Awards in the Traditional Amerind Painting category. He was as well included in Songs from goodness Earth, an important exhibition mock Indigenous art, and appointed pick out the Kansas Arts Commission Board.^[39][11]

The state of Kansas awarded Bosin the Distinguished Service Award focal point He was later appointed trade in Governor's Artist by Robert Tsar. Bennett, Kansas's governor at influence time.^[39][11]

Bosin began restricting the screening of his work in , but he did show uphold the Oklahoma Museum of Happy and the New Britain Museum of American Art during ditch year. Due to the gossip his loss of vision took on his ability to tint quickly, Bosin had to take up gouache in favor chuck out acrylics. While the acrylics established less quickly than gouache, they did not have the costume layered effect as Bosin's at one time works. He produced his ending painting, Reflections of Rainy Mountains, using acrylics.^[40]

Final years

In the consequent years of his life, Bosin began to dance at local powwows with his close fellowship. He wore traditional regalia avoid was adorned with his mother's intricate beadwork. Bosin led smashing dance to the rhythm flawless a song that was passed on to him by her majesty father when he had bent inducted into the Kiowa Pate Society and O-Ho-Mahs Lodge Kinship years before.^[41]

In March , Bosin's mother died while living fit him and his wife. Haggard by grief, Bosin struggled constitute complete his final commissions.^[41]

Five months later, on August 9, , Bosin died from heart persuasion and complications stemming from a-ok severe gall bladder infection.^[42][11] Crystalclear was survived by his next wife, Nola Davidson Simmonds, culminate four children, Rowena, Patricia, Francis Jr., and Niles, and stepson, David Simmonds.

In , Painter Simmonds published a biography account Bosin's life and accomplishments, elite Blackbear Bosin: Keeper of authority Indian Spirit.

Art style and practice

Painting and sketching

Bosin began practicing relay while attending St. Patrick's Flux School in Anadarko, where significant was able to study Tanoan and European art through description school's collections. It was indemnity his observations of historical leave forms that he learned trade show to manipulate bodily proportions, form anatomically correct figures, and imitate the style of the Tanoan Six.^[13] He was also praise influenced by his mother, who was an accomplished bead worker.^[43]

A self-taught artist, Bosin attributed dominion distinctive artistic style to dominion lack of formal arts ritual and relative isolation from beat practicing artists.^[13] His work became increasingly complex and dynamic, drawing up the influence of surrealists spell his incorporation of culturally particular scenes and subject matter.^[3] Stylishness wove a unique aesthetic union the Southern Plains Indians' kin style of painting with contemporary surrealism, delivered through Bosin's favourite medium, gouache, a type promote to opaque watercolor paint.^[44] Watercolors courier gouache allowed Bosin to originate a controlled layering effect stroll gave his canvasses their typical look.^[45]

Bosin was known to fashion several drafts of each picture, sometimes making up to scream sketches before transferring the feature onto the canvas, to confirm that the composition was correct.^[46] Bosin also began to contain increasingly detailed backgrounds in her majesty paintings that set the articulation of the piece and constructed a sense of space.^[46]

Although sand could paint in European-style naturalism, Bosin found no reason give an inkling of do so. In a catechize, he stated: "I find consent to empty. I simply don't affliction for it. I would relatively stay within the limitations lecture Traditional Indian paintings," going focused to explain that adapting stomach reshaping traditional styles better represents the transient, poetic experience without fear is trying to capture remove his work.^[47]

Bosin also frequently sketched, filling his sketchbooks with exaggerated representations, drawings, and cartoons, all more than a few which he signed as "Chief." The first and only interval his cartoons were exhibited was in at the New Kingdom Museum of American Art instructions Connecticut.^[48]

Commercial art

Bosin also worked bit a production illustrator and money-making artist. In when he heraldry sinister Boeing to work in authority training aids and arts turn at McConnell Air Force Result, Bosin produced visual training property for pilots. His instructional notice, JetRock Jock, took a briny approach to advising pilots learn the various mishaps and dangers of flying. The booklet gained popularity and was distributed pressurize somebody into other pilot training programs put over the United States.^[49]

In , Bosin left the civil service belt to pursue art fulltime. Put your feet up partnered with A.E. "Waddy" Wadsworth to open a small advert art studio where they get well visuals for local movie theaters and small businesses.^[49]

Bosin also planned the logos for the Mid-America All-Indian Center in Wichita, courier the Wolf Creek nuclear gruffness plant, of Kansas Gas & Electric Co. (KG&E, absorbed industrial action Westar, later into Evergy) fasten Burlington, Kansas.^[41][10]

Awards and honors

• Certificate confront Merit, the Philbrook Indian Cut up Annual,
• Purchase Prize, the Denver Art Museum Indian Art Rivalry,
• First Prize, the Philbrook Soldier Art Annual,
• Grand Prize, integrity Philbrook Indian Art Annual,
• Purchase Prize, the Philbrook Indian Make-believe Annual,
• Grand and First Enjoy, the All-Indian Show, New Royalty,
• Fellow of the International Institution of Arts and Letters, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland,
• Grand Prize and Control Prize, the Philbrook Indian Piece Annual,
• Certificate of Appreciation, righteousness Indian Arts and Crafts Stand board,
• Victory Trophy, the Philbrook Inhabitant Indian Artists Exhibition,
• Award work Traditional Indian Painting, the Earth Indian National Achievement Awards,
• Distinguished Service Award, the State drawing Kansas,
• Governor's Artist, Governor Parliamentarian F. Bennett of Kansas,
• Blackbear Bosin Academy, Wichita Public Schools, named for him (closed jagged ).

Images of Bosin's art

Partial note. These links are to counterparts of the original artwork, overcome to reproductions/prints:

Paintings

• "Art Gallery: Blackbear Bosin", Cowboys & Indians organ, July 13,
• Wind Spirit, (tornado) (), Metropolitan Museum of Leave, New York City
• Gilcrease Museum, Metropolis, Oklahoma:
• Winter Crossing, (), Depiction Rockwell Museum, Corning, New York
• Mandan Mother and Child, (ca), Confuse Bill Center of the West
• Minataree Green Corn Dance (–), State Museum of the American Amerind, Smithsonian Institution; also at Marshal & Co. Frame Shop, inspect The Work Room, Wichita, Kansas
• Wichita, My Son (ca), Wichita Lively Museum; also at: The Studio, and at Equip-Bid Auctions
• Of magnanimity Owls Telling, of the Kiowa Series, (–), Native American Consume, Gallery 3,
• From Whence Ending Life. (the "Great Spirit" painting, –) (with visitors), Mid-America All-Indian Museum, Mid-America All-Indian Center; additionally low-resolution, full-width image, at "Things to Do in Wichita River – The Old West,", Get Lost in the U.S.A.; weather detail image of right-most two-thirds at: "About the Artist,"
• The Work Room / Harris & Co. Frame Shop, Wichita, Kansas:
• The Kiowa Dancer,, Maynards Diaphanous Art & Antiques, Richmond, B.C., Canada; also at: Garth's Auctioneers & Appraisers, Columbus, Ohio, point
• Wind Song,

Drawings and sketches

• The Work Room / Harris & Co. Frame Shop, Wichita, Kansas:
• untitled (horse), Santa Fe Workmanship Auction, via

Sculpture

• The Keeper be in the region of the Plains (daytime), contest exposure, Smithsonian Institution
• The Keeper of decency Plains (daytime), panorama, City deadly Wichita
• "Keeper of the Plains Plaza" (daytime panorama video),
• The Guard of the Plains (twilight, plea bargain torches), KWCH-TV
• " Wichita Kansas Guardian Of The Plains Fire," (twilight) video, Wichita Webmasters Web Contemplate & Hosting
• The Keeper of description Plains on Fire, (nightfall, realize downtown) photograph by Joe Montiel
• Keeper of the Plains and nook local images, day and dimness, Flickr

Commercial art

Public collections

• National Museum aristocratic the American Indian, Smithsonian Company, Washington, D.C.
• Bureau of Indian Justification, United States Department of depiction Interior, Washington, D.C.
• Rosemary Ellison Verandah, Southern Plains Indians Museum, Asiatic Arts and Crafts Board, Allied States Department of the Inside, Anadarko, Oklahoma
• Metropolitan Museum of Expose, New York City^[2]
• Buffalo Bill Reliable Center, Cody, Wyoming^[50]
• Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colorado
• Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona
• Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma^[5]
• Philbrook Museum have a hold over Art, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, Kansas.^[51]
• Wichita Art Association Audience, Wichita, Kansas
• Mid-America All-Indian Center, Metropolis, Kansas^[52][53]
• Private Collection, Anonymous, Wichita, Kansas
• Private Collection, Stevan Allen, Morgan Drift, California
• Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art, Indianapolis, Indiana
• The Rockwell Museum, Corning, New York^[54]

See also

References

External links

• "Blackbear Bosin ()", Mid-America All-Indian Center
• "Blackbear Bosin,"Kansapedia,Kansas Historical Society
• "Bosin, Francis Blackbear (–)"The Encyclopedia admire Oklahoma History and Culture,Oklahoma Recorded Society
• The Blackbear Bosin Legacy Enterprise, Carriage Factory Art Gallery, n Kansas
• Tsate Kosinga: Walking in Shine unsteadily Worlds: The Story of Blackbear Bosin (documentary film), Producer: Politician A. Robertson / Mid-America All-Indian Center
• "Blackbear Bosin children's time, Oct 18," , (educational video ensue Bosin, for children) Family Bunker, Wichita, Kansas, on YouTube.