Historic Indian drawings on display in Escondido

By: KIRBY FAIRFAX - For the North County Times | Wednesday, May 9, 2007 10:40 AM PDT ∞

United States history buffs, Indian lore enthusiasts and art lovers of all kinds might want to take note of a local event based largely on the kind of quirky story usually revealed on public television's "Antiques Roadshow." To wit: In 1978, a literally priceless book was tossed into the trash bin by a person or persons unknown. Luckily the valuable tome ---- which was produced by and for American Indians around 1868 ---- was rescued and then digitally reproduced. The results of that process, a limited-edition collection of prints, now grace the walls of the Robert Wright Fine Arts Gallery in Escondido under the title "Native American, An Exhibit of Past, Present and Preservation."

On public display for the first time, the 32 pieces represent the PILA Project (an acronym for Plains Indian Ledger Art), which is a collaboration of several organizations dedicated to the preservation and promulgation of these historical treasures. Some 200 such volumes are known to exist, according to Robert Wright, gallery owner and publisher of the project, who explained that American Indians used these readily available items of trade to record their experiences during the latter part of the 19th century. (The project hopes to salvage as many of the books ---- many of which are in private hands and disintegrating through improper care or being sold piecemeal, page by page ---- as possible by this modern technique.)

On the yellowed, lined pages, braves and chiefs (many sporting feathered headdresses and war paint and invariably on horseback) are depicted in exquisite detail, often in battle with U.S. soldiers, with arrows and bullets flying. This period covered their transition from free people to that of reservation dwellers, a fact that also figures largely in the drawings of governmental meetings and the signing of "peace" treaties.

Graphite sticks, pastels, colored pencils, natural dyes and waxes ---- a combination of traditional materials and new art supplies imported from Europe and available by bartering or gotten as booty from other sorts of less scrupulous transactions ---- were used in this endeavor, Wright added. He also noted that the artists seemed to have used a pictorial vocabulary to communicate with one another that was not decipherable to the uninitiated eye, a practice common throughout all ages and cultures.

The particular book on display, known to be done by members of the Cheyenne tribe, was originally acquired by a captain in the U.S. Army who made sure it stayed in the family. Eventually (after its nearly untimely demise in the trash), it came into the hands of the organizers of the PILA Project, Wright said, at which time it "hadn't been opened in a hundred years. When I first saw it I turned white as a sheet. The spirit just came over me! I was seeing something that few eyes have ever laid on in the history of art ---- it has opened a Pandora's box. People are saying, 'Why is this in Escondido? Why isn't it in Washington, D.C., or New York?' ... We do hope to put together a traveling exhibit which will tour the major museums," he added, "now that this is finally available for the world to see."

Proceeds from the sale of these archival prints will go back into the project, Wright noted, to further its research and development.

Also on display at the Wright Gallery, adding interest and dramatic flair to these pictures of modest size and hue, is a bold series of contemporary bronze sculptures and a number of paintings of historical photographic portraits originally commissioned by the government. Both collections feature American Indian heroes and both are executed by Escondido-based artists: Marie Barbera and Lisa Bowdin, respectively.

The exhibition runs through May 21.

"Native American, An Exhibit of Past, Present and Preservation"

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; through May 21

Where: Robert Wright Fine Art Gallery, 140 E. Grand Ave., Escondido

Admission: Free

Info: (760) 432-6700

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