His Start...
He grew up in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Jackson, California where he pursued archeological work and interpreted for the Park Service at the State Indian Museum. Originally, his studio was located in the small community of Pine Grove in Amador County, California, where he also grew gourds.
He said "Any talent I may have is a tribute to my parents. My mother was an accomplished basket maker and my father had a gift for producing images from original drawings. I inherited the ability to draw a straight line from my parents."
His Heritage...
The Washoe traditionally are from the Lake Tahoe region in California and the Carson Valley area in Nevada. They summered at Lake Tahoe, which is a sacred lake, and wintered in the Carson Valley. They were hunter-gatherers who later became known for their fine basketry. Lillian Snooks, his great-grandmother; Leta Miller, his grandmother; and his mother, Juanita Snooks were all basket makers in the spirit of Dat So La Lee, the honored Washoe artist. His mother specialized in making cradle boards structured from the same willow weaving materials gathered from traditional areas.
When he first started painting gourds he wanted to paint and reproduce on his gourds the traditional design of these baskets, but tradition required that he first seek and receive permission from the family. Then, the design itself is a spiritual reproduction of the basket design, in respect for the elders who made the basket.
His Work...
He prided himself in making a one-of-a-kind piece, so he altered the geometric designs to evolve his own interpretation of the original baskets. Traditional colors, themes, designs and materials (gourds and beadwork) characterize his work... but playful aspects of modern and non-traditional images also find their way into his art.
Each gourd is an original. A careful balance of theme and style is worked onto the surface of each piece. The graphic image may be repeated, but the application of the geometric designs and beadwork are always unique, with the size and shape of the individual gourd guiding his hand.
His Legacy...
His talent and his devotion to each gourd he created speaks for itself. He is greatly missed since he joined his ancestors 15 September 2007!
He grew up in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Jackson, California where he pursued archeological work and interpreted for the Park Service at the State Indian Museum. Originally, his studio was located in the small community of Pine Grove in Amador County, California, where he also grew gourds.
He said "Any talent I may have is a tribute to my parents. My mother was an accomplished basket maker and my father had a gift for producing images from original drawings. I inherited the ability to draw a straight line from my parents."
His Heritage...
The Washoe traditionally are from the Lake Tahoe region in California and the Carson Valley area in Nevada. They summered at Lake Tahoe, which is a sacred lake, and wintered in the Carson Valley. They were hunter-gatherers who later became known for their fine basketry. Lillian Snooks, his great-grandmother; Leta Miller, his grandmother; and his mother, Juanita Snooks were all basket makers in the spirit of Dat So La Lee, the honored Washoe artist. His mother specialized in making cradle boards structured from the same willow weaving materials gathered from traditional areas.
When he first started painting gourds he wanted to paint and reproduce on his gourds the traditional design of these baskets, but tradition required that he first seek and receive permission from the family. Then, the design itself is a spiritual reproduction of the basket design, in respect for the elders who made the basket.
His Work...
He prided himself in making a one-of-a-kind piece, so he altered the geometric designs to evolve his own interpretation of the original baskets. Traditional colors, themes, designs and materials (gourds and beadwork) characterize his work... but playful aspects of modern and non-traditional images also find their way into his art.
Each gourd is an original. A careful balance of theme and style is worked onto the surface of each piece. The graphic image may be repeated, but the application of the geometric designs and beadwork are always unique, with the size and shape of the individual gourd guiding his hand.
His Legacy...
His talent and his devotion to each gourd he created speaks for itself. He is greatly missed since he joined his ancestors 15 September 2007!