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photo by Hannah Reel
Wayne Bryant, left, and Larry Holder look at the detail carvings on a sculpture of a Natchez Indian by Alexander Brown during the unveiling at the ArtsNatchez Gallery Friday night. Holder and his wife Annette, owners of Holder’s Drugstore and Mrs. Holder’s Antiques, commissioned Brown to sculpt the Indian for their store on Franklin Street.
Natchez Indian moves in downtown
Published Saturday, July 11, 2009
NATCHEZ — The first Natchez Indian to make a formal appearance in the city in hundreds of years was at the ArtsNatchez gallery Friday.
But he’s not answering any questions, and he’s going to spend most of his time at Holder’s Drug store.
The “Indian” is actually a life-size, wooden sculpture completed by Bentonia sculptor Alexander Brown.
Brown made the sculpture from recovered cypress wood on a commission by Holder’s Drug Store owners Larry and Annette Holder. Larry Holder said he has wanted a cigar store Indian for some time.
Most cigar store Indians are based off the American Indian cultures of the Midwest, but the Brown sculpture was based from historical accounts of what a Natchez Indian would have dressed and looked like.
Photo by Hannah Reel
The crowd admires the sculpture during the unveiling.
“The problem was, people would come in and say, ‘A Natchez Indian? What would it look like?’” Larry Holder said. “Nobody knew.”
The project took a lot of research, including consultation with the four leading experts on southeastern American Indian culture and Grand Village of the Natchez Indians Director Jim Barnett, Brown said.
Ultimately, the artist and Holder were able to consult some drawings from French explorers, and based on those were able to pick several features to include on the sculpture.
From start to finish, the two worked together to whittle the sculpture concept down from complex to simple, Brown said.
“These were Indians before the Europeans, so they had no metal, no beasts of burden, no wheel,” Brown said. “They made some very sophisticated knives out of flint, but they had no steel needle to sew with.”
The sculpture is tattooed and naked except for a loincloth, clam and bear claw necklace and a feather headdress — the headdress was based off of the design on the seal at Britton & Koontz Bank — and he is clutching a war club.
He also has what appears to be a squirrel tucked into his belt, but it is actually a medicine pouch, Holder said.
The Natchez Indians would clean a squirrel, but would leave the skin whole.
“They had no way to carry things, so it became a purse,” Holder said.
Brown completed the sculpture from a single piece of wood in approximately 60 days.
Comments
Posted by Greenfields (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 12:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
that is cool
Posted by steveholmes (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 12:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I BET IT COST OVER 10 GRAND TO CARVE THAT DUDE. WHAT U RECKON?
Posted by bigdaddy101 (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 4:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kaw-Liga was a wooden indian standin' by the door.....
Posted by nd (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 6:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That is pretty.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 6:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
interesting, very athletic looking warrior......
Posted by ProNatchez (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 7:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kaw-Liga was the first thing that came to my mind as well.
Posted by Natchezbear (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't take any wooden nickles Wayne!
Posted by erohed (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is not only a wonderful piece of art, it's history in the making. Wouldn't it be even greater, had they (the natchez indians) a totem pole?
Posted by olderthandirt (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you, Annette and Larry!
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have seen one of the drawings the indian was sculpted from. I hope the artists used more of the written descriptions instead of the drawn pictures. There is no drawn picture by the French of the Natchez Indiands that exist. When the French returned home the pictures were destroyed and more or less new pictures drawn (cleaned up versions) that gave the indians more of a white man European look. The pictures at the indian village here in Natchez were drawn by monks and people in churches in Europe not the actual explorers. Just a little info for every body. Either way, I'm glad to see it. I know a lot of people talk about slavery and how bad it was being taken from one shore to another. These people were outright murdered, and they were the true Americans.
Posted by naturegirl (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Too bad about the loincloth. He could have been the "David" of Natchez. LOL
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's not start the slavery vs. being a Native American argument. It's not necessary and uncalled for. Both groups endured very harsh and evil exploits during their time.
Anyhow, the sculpture is VERY nice and most warriors are of athletic build. I've yet to see a very effective warrior out of condition. I love history, studying what is written. I do too much questioning of it however, as it always depends upon WHO'S writing the story. Great sculpture!
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He looks like a young Kirk Douglas. I don't know of any Indians that sport a six-pack. I'd say the head piece, loin cloth, and the artifacts are archaeology correct.
Posted by happyreader (anonymous) on July 11, 2009 at 10:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sure that there were plenty of young braves with abs of steel.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on July 12, 2009 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's not start the slavery vs. Indian vs. white man argument. It's not necessary and uncalled for. They are endured very harsh and evil exploits during their time. I love the Indian sculpture. I think it's a wonderful way to honor Natchez past and the proud tribes that lived here for so many years. Maybe we should have Native American History Month and a few extra holidays added to our calender to pay tribute to some of the leaders of these tribes.
Posted by marinefrmntz (anonymous) on July 13, 2009 at 10:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If thats whats a real Natchez Indian looked like then Im Asian. This reminds me of those photos of Jesus lol.
Posted by RAVENNEVERMORE (anonymous) on July 15, 2009 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The proportions of the statue make it look like one of those cartoon characters on King of the Hill---huge head and torso with small lower body below the waist line.
It looks good enough, but I surely hope he didn't pay more than $500 for it, especially if the artist spent only sixty days on the statue.
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