Completed in 2022, this is a limited edition of 10. Edition numbers 1 and 3 are already sold, numbers 2 and 4 are currently available. With the base, it is 18" x 10" x 10".
The subject of the sculpture is Shayne's interpretation of the Kokumthena (Our Grandmother), the female deity known to Shawnee Native Americans as the Creator. Paboth'kwe, or Papoothkwe, is another Shawnee name for this matriarchal figure, meaning "Cloud Woman." According to Shawnee mythology, Our Grandmother descended from the Sky World and created Earth, all bodies of water and tracts of land, and rested her newly created world on the back of the turtle.
The four shining feathers at the tip of each wing, and the four twigs in each of her hands, represent the eight messages she revealed to the Shawnee people. The twigs are also a reference to the great Shawnee chief and warrior, Tecumseh, who once said, “A single twig breaks, but a bundle of twigs is strong.”
On the base of the sculpture near the water’s edge are five rabbitsfoot mussels, representing sacred bundles extremely significant in Shawnee religion. Kokumthena presented a sacred bundle (Messawni), which represented the key mediums of relating to Our Grandmother, to each of the five Shawnee divisions. Each bundle contained items that were reminders of sacred beliefs, special blessings, powerful totems critical to the survival of the Shawnee, and certain events that were particularly significant for each division. The individual totem bundle (Pawaka) emerged as the personal form of the Messawni, and became the personal sacred bundle. Elements of the Pawaka were earned by worthy accomplishments and personal preparations rather than by free gifts from Our Grandmother. The rabbitsfoot freshwater mussel is native to the Ohio River region and currently listed as a “threatened” species. $2800 shipping included.
Copyright © 2024 Shayne Watkins Art - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.