Native Americans have used
pipes in a ceremonial context for at least 2000 years. Tobacco
and the inner bark and leaves of certain trees and shrubs were
smoked in pipes on sacred occasions as an offering to the Great
Spirit. The ritual use of the pipe continues today by those Native
Americans practicing their traditional religions.
“Sacred Directions”
is typical of a highly decorated ceremonial T-pipe used by Plains
Indians for the past 300 years. The bowl was hand carved from
Minnesota pipestone and is inlaid with black steatite and lead
alloy, both common pipe inlay materials. The stem is ash wood
that is decorated with hand plaited porcupine quills, quilled
artificial eagle feathers, horsetail and brain-tanned leather.
The designs of the inlay,
stem penetrations and quill plaiting symbolize and pay homage
to the four cardinal directions, Earth Mother and Creator. The
approximate size of the pipe is 22 1/4 inches long, 2 ¾
inches tall, 1 ¾ inches wide. The oak display case with
acrylic dustcover is approximately 24 ¼ inches long, 5
½ inches wide, 13 inches tall.
This pipe was awarded first
place in the Pipe Category at the 2008 Santa Fe Indian Market.
Argus Dowdy is a self-taught
award winning artist and member of the Choctaw Nation Of Oklahoma.
He has chosen traditional American Indian pipes and stone sculpture
as his primary artistic mediums. He currently lives in Oklahoma
where he works full time as an artist. Examples of his work have
been shown in galleries throughout the Southwest. The artist
also exhibits in several major Indian art shows including the
Heard Museum Indian Fair and Market and the Santa Fe Indian Market.
The artist not only supplies
Native American pipes for traditional American Indian ceremonies
but also creates museum quality traditional pipes for the serious
collector of Native American art.
His collector grade pipes
often feature Minnesota pipestone or black steatite bowls inlaid
with lead and contrasting color stone, porcupine quill wrapped
stems, quilled feathers and hardwood display cases with acrylic
dust covers. Each pipe is created as a unique piece of art using
traditional Native American designs and materials which have
been carefully researched. No pieces are ever copied.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
"I believe the traditional
pipe is the most important pre-Columbian American Indian cultural
item in both a spiritual and artistic sense. American Indian
pipes have been used by many tribes in a sacred ceremonial context
for over 4,000 years. The pipe is also an excellent example of
a three-dimensional mixed media art object, combining stone and
wood sculpture with quillwork, featherwork, leatherwork and jewelry
inlay techniques. It is important to me as an American Indian
artist to create pipes using traditional ancestral designs and
materials and to treat the pipes with the respect deserved by
our most sacred cultural items.
"It is my hope that through
my art the viewer can recognize the rich spiritual heritage of
the Native American people."
