Views on Bear Hunt Statue

2 different views on Bear Hunt statue, from Native and artist views. Nancy’s Testimony My family from Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians, San Diego, CA. M G is 1 of the 12 Bands. The 12 bands is called Kumeyaay Nation. M G is the grandfather village, oldest tribe of Kumeyaay Nation. a map of CA, to San Diego, is Kumeyaay border. Red circle is M G. Long ago, M G Indians wore outfit and headdresses in eagle feathers, very sacred and has meanings behind them. 4 Indians dancing called, “The Tatahuila Dance”, Mourning Ceremony. Long ago, Junipero Serra and Spaniard soldiers arrived in CA in 1700s, to build 1st mission in SD and on up to San Francisco, total 21 Missions. Chief Geronimo-my distant relative. His mother-my Great-Great-Great Aunt. There was a protest at US/Mexico Border, fighting for Kumeyaay Nation rights, preserving our sacred lands with artifacts and remains, Trump wants to build a wall there. Native View on Bear Hunt statue. I see statue as both bear, cubs and 2 Indians as nature. They were attacked. Because it was dangerous, and still is today. Indian hunters walk into mothers with children all the time. I see sculpture a symbol of power, that we shall overcome. I asked my family, “what do you think of Bear Hunt statue?” They read Richard Eckert’s article from Indian Country News, Erasing Genocide and Fantasizing Honor with Tilden’s “Indian.” They saw Bear Hunt statue NOT RACIST at all. I asked them, “what do you see there?” They said, “we see bears and Indians surviving for their lives. It is nature.” Genocide in Bear Hunt statue? Animals do not attack people as genocide. Tilden’s quote- My Indian and bear present a full front, both in so full a vigor that Who wins: must forever be a question in the spectator’s mind. My Native view on Tilden’s quote- each one; bear and Indian, attacked each other which such force, that you the viewer will have to comtemplate which one is the stronger of the 2. It has nothing to do with racism. Tilden was simply questioning who is stronger? Man or Mother Nature? So in effect, Tilden, the artist was glorifying the strength of Native Americans, not in any way making Indian weak. Artist’s View on Bear Hunt statue I go to Deaf schools teach art for Pre-K-12 and I do murals. Interesting Facts about Tilden he was paid by CSD, to study sculptures at Ecole des Beaux-Arts in France. Tilden was a Deaf artist. He was taught by a French Deaf art teacher, Paul-Francois Choppin. Tilden’s 1st try to submit statue, Baseball Player, in the Salon des Artistes Francais on the Champs Elysees, out of thousands of artists who sought entry into the annual exhibition. Only 700-800 sculptures were accepted. Tilden was one of the fewest artists from USA to enter art exhibition. This was an enormous achievement for Tilden. When Theophilus Hope d’Estrella came to Paris from CA, he and Tilden visited Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in Paris. It was possible Tilden was inspired to do Native Americans theme in his works. Tilden chose Bear Hunt as Man vs. Nature in his studies at Ecole des Beaux-Arts. There are half-naked statues Tilden made. Bear Hunt 1892, The Tired Boxer 1890, Apple Cider Press 1892 and Mechanics 1901. Naked statues mean sexism? Ethno-sexual? Imagined masculinities? NO. Bear Hunt is ART. Art is subjective. It is totally interpretation. Tilden loves the native culture and had a vision. Becuz Bear Hunt statue was one of the hardest things for Tilden to accomplish due to limitations of casting metal. From Richard Eckert’s article written in Indian Country Today newsletter. He was criticizing the look on statue, Indian not look like Indian? Bear out of proportion? There is no right or wrong about the statue. It is ART. It is Tilden’s art style. Is Bear Hunt a Cultural Appropriation? NO. Bear Hunt statue was part of the studies Tilden worked on, in France, Man vs. Nature. Tilden said in his heart, that was his work for and with the Deaf. Tilden was a white Deaf artist, but I look at him as a Deaf artist, because he was inspired by what he saw, and had a vision. There was another piece of art, painted by a white Deaf artist, named George Catlin, Bear vs. Indians. Compare to Bear Hunt statue with others. statues made by a native sculptor. Do they look sexism? Ethno-sexual? No. They are ART. Tilden loved his works, his heart, that was his work for and with the Deaf. Are there Stereotypic images on Bear Hunt Statue? No. Bear Hunt is ART. Art is subjective. It is totally interpretation. There is no sign(s) of stereotypic images on statue. This is a story statue. Death Grip aka Bear Hunt No. Bear Hunt is not a nickname for Death Grip nor was it “known as.” Death Grip was a rough idea title during Tilden’s work and then title was confirmed as “Bear Hunt.” Tilden’s Wish. He wished his death ashes be buried underneath Bear Hunt statue. I cherish Bear Hunt statue and keep it there at CSDF. Thank you. To support the Bear Hunt statue, sign the petition. http://chng.it/pMxcyDjS