In 1927 the group to become known as The Kiowa Five became the first group of Kiowa Indians to receive training at the University of Oklahoma. These artists were Jack Hokeah, Stephen Mopope, Spencer Asah, Monroe Tsatoke and the lone woman in the group, Louise Bou-ge-tah Smokey. By November 1927 thier Kiowa art had received national recognition and in 1928 their art was sent to the First International Exposition in Czechoslovakia where it helped the Exposition a considerable success. This led to the first major publication of American Indian Painting n 1929, a small French art press previously unknown to audiences in the United States, C. Szwedzicki of Nice, published a portfolio entitled Kiowa Indian Art. This folio of 30 works was the most elegant and meticulous publication on American Indian art ever offered for sale, coming at a time when Indian art of the West and Southwest was prominent in the public imagaination. Of particular interest were the new watercolors being made by Kiowa and Pueblo artists; a place was made for their display in the realm of American "fine art" traditions in museums and art galleries all over the country. Kiowa Indian Art and the five successive portfolios published in Nice are now precious volumes mostly sequestered in rare book departments of museum and university libraries.
In 1979 Bell Editions of Santa Fe republished this wonderful set of paintings made by the five orginal Kiowa artist with our listed print is from this latter series which was number 294 of a limited edition of 750 folios, 30 scarce yet stunning examples of Native American Art. Hokeeah had 7 examples, Asah 1 example, Bou-ge-tah Smokey 1 example, Mopope 16 and Tsatoke 5.
PRIEST AT PRAYER
Imprinted with Artist name, Hokeah
750 Piece Limited Edition Art sized at 11." by 15" on stiff heavy paper
An Original 1979 print (plate number 4) removed from the
Folio numbered 294
Jack Hokeah was born in 1902 and died in 1973. Orphaned, Hokeah was raised by his Grandparents, Kiowa warrior White Horse. Born in western Oklahoma Hokeah appears to have given up painting by the 1930s. Hokeah attend St. Patrick's Indian Mission School in Anadarko, Oklahoma, and there he received his first art instruction from Sister Olivia Taylor, a Choctaw nun. Susan Peters, the field matron for the Kiowa agency, arranged for Mrs. Willie Baze Lane, an artist from Chickasha, Oklahoma, to provide further art instruction for the young Indians, including Spencer Asah. Recognizing the talent of some of the young artists, Peters convinced Swedish-American artist Oscar Jacobson, director of the University of Oklahoma's School of Art, to accept the Kiowa students into a special program at the school.
SUPERB AS NEW CONDITION
Inventory: Shelf 13 Folio - 1
