During my Summer of Dad, I revisited the Denver Art Museum and came across this exhibit. Enjoy.
“Indian canoes were used on the river highways for thousands of years but after the Great Invasion, they were also used by trappers, traders and U.S. government agents. The agents were sent to rid the land of Indians so that the land could be sold or given to European farmers as well as for the U.S. government to exploit the abundant resources.
Trade Canoe for Don Quixote moves the trade canoe to a more massive war canoe such as the ocean going canoes on the Pacific Rim. Besides the wars in the Middle East, perpetuated by the U.S., there are other issues that are fought politically in a war-like way. These issues might be as varied as a woman’s right to choose for her own body; healthy natural foods versus unhealthy processed foods that are controlled by massive corporate campaigns; the consumer culture issue which are controlled by international corporations versus living in a sustainable way and of course, religious fervor can be the basis of war. Xenophobia drives wayfaring people to terrorize innocent people, especially women, children and the elderly. This has been going on since the beginning of human kind. I dumped all this into the trade canoe. Can we trade all of this for peace, respect, kindness, friendship, sustainability and a caring for our planet and all its inhabitants?”
Artist Jaune Quick-to-See Smith
Ordered a cd of your music. Something stirring for Christmas.
Thank you Andy…I just got notified via cdbaby of a sale – and who could it be but to you, my blogger buddy!
Way cool, hope the giftee enjoys it.
It’s for me 🙂
I like to listen to instrumental music when I write (lyrics/words get in the way).
Lyrics are okay during later drafts. Just my own peculiar way of doing things!
I am that way about listening to music in general…lyrics ‘get in the way’ for me, too.
Sounds like you’re doing some writing…?
Still that novel I keep returning to. Hopefully will be in a good shape come 2017.
Maybe 2017 is the year for it! Good luck.
Interesting history on the canoe. As much as I wish we were not in the Middle East, what is happening there needs to be stopped somehow. People are being slaughtered.
And by their own countrymen…so hard to grasp this greater-than-cruel treatment of everyday families/people just trying to live out their lives while in the midst of such devastation; always in danger.
A very thoughtful exhibit and like the artist’s mission. The trade canoe ending brought it all together for me.
Yeah, me too Jane.
“Can we trade all of this for peace, respect, kindness, friendship, sustainability and a caring for our planet and all its inhabitants?” Amen to that!!!
A very evocative art exhibit! How true about corporate America and, sadly, our insular mindset.
I remember years ago a phrase I committed to memory that might fit in well here:
“Invest in communities rather than commodities”
Have a great weekend, L.Marie.