55

Echo Ukrainetz
Legend of The Blanket Flower

batik with gold and silver powder
30 x 21 in.

$4,500–$5,500

(Thank you, NativeShinee, for permission to use photo reference)

“Firewheel is also known as indian blanket flower (the flower shown in the beadwork), a name that comes from a legend. The story goes the braves from a native american tribe went to war, leaving behind their wives and children. Soon after, the wife of the chief began weaving a blanket for her husband. In the blanket she wove threads of red, orange, and yellow, each pattern a symbol of her prayer to the Great Spirit to keep her husband safe.

One day, the daughter of the chief was out playing in the woods and got lost. Night soon fell, and the little girl prayed to the Great Spirit to send the blanket to keep her warm during the night. She fell asleep.

The next morning, she found herself covered in flowers of the same red, orange and yellow, colors as the blanket. Her father, returning from war, found his daughter covered in the beautiful flowers. From that time on, they were called Indian blanket flowers.”

The wild species of the Blanet Flower (Gaillardia) covers the ground with a blanket of brightly colored daisy-like flowers in shades of red, orange, and yellow.

135

Chris Owen
Tempest

oil
30 x 40 in.

$15,000–$22,000

The horse is captured in a moment of unrestrained motion, representing a spirit of freedom and raw natural energy to bring the image to life, and highlighting his power and grace.

Its dominant musculature is defined by the interplay of light and shadow, capturing the essence of strength and vitality, a sense of speed, and a feeling of being unshackled.

159

Jeremy Winborg
Pitamakan—Dawn of a Horse Thief

oil
48 x 37  in.

$27,000–$33,000

Dawn of a Horse Thief portrays the young Blackfeet warrior Pitamakan returning at sunrise from a night raid, riding at the head of the captured herd with her father’s rifle raised. Her father had died in battle when she was young, and she inherited his rifle along with his role as provider and protector for the family. She would dress as a boy and sneak out on night raids to steal horses. She became respected in her tribe as an excellent horse thief and after many successful raids, she distinguished herself as a warrior and led her own expeditions. Her horse thievery made her well-known among enemies, and any warrior who killed her would gain honor from it. Unfortunately, Pitamakan died around 1836 while leading a war party. Through oral histories and artworks like this, Pitamakan’s courage, skill, and legacy live on. Her calm strength in her moment of return is preserved for us to remember. A collection of studies created by the artist exclusively for this piece accompany this lot.

177

Kim Randleas
Buffalo Running, 1883

oil , praxinoscope
48 in. rond panel; 5½ x 9 x 9 in.

$10,000–$12,000

Buffalo Running, 1883 pairs an original oil painting with a praxinoscope created by the artist that animates bison from Eadweard Muybridge’s motion studies. Inspired by Victorian-era invention and the birth of cinema, the work reflects both the thrill of technological progress and the cultural upheaval reshaping Native American life in the late 19th century.  Scan the code to see the praxinoscope in motion.

188

Chris Owen
Timing is Right

oil
36 x 20 in.

$10,000–$15,000

The timing and skill required in a working ranch environment is important, particularly when roping. “The precise synchronization between the horse’s movements, the cowboy’s position, and the animal’s dynamic stride stresses the complexity of the task, where timing is paramount to a successful catch. The cowboy’s daily work shows an incredible blend of anticipation, coordination, and athletic competence from both the cowboy and the animal.” The timing of his horse’s stop is a key part of the equation, and it is necessary that he can fit his throw and stop into that sequence.