Lot 212
Bonnie Halsey-Dutton (American, Contemporary). "To Shield: To Protect" watercolor and gouache on paper, 2009. Signed and dated on lower right. Signature, title, and date on verso as well. A beautiful painting of a Gross Ventre shield against a background featuring motifs inspired by the Castle Gardens Petroglyph site in Wyoming. All is delineated in Halsey-Dutton's lyrical manner and uniquely floated upon a backdrop that the artist faux-painted to resemble animal hide in a deep acrylic shadowbox frame. In addition to this piece's impressive artistry, the iconography is replete with layers of meaningful symbolism. In Halsey-Dutton's words, "The very word shield is what this painting is about. Everyone puts up a shield in some form or another. This Gross Ventre shield symbolically represents the Achilles heel of mankind: that of fear. The textures in the shield depicted, as always drew me in. The presence of a circle repeated over and again shows/represents the timelessness of the use of a shield." Size (painting): 30" L x 11" W (76.2 cm x 27.9 cm) Size (shadowbox): 34.5" L x 15.4" W x 2.7" D (87.6 cm x 39.1 cm x 6.9 cm)
Halsey-Dutton continues, "The Castle Gardens Petroglyph site, Wyoming, was inspiration to the designs depicted. Much of the meaning of these ancient pecked and engraved petroglyphs is lost to time. Some is very readable by modern man: the presence of a turtle is well documented symbolically in many Plains Indians tribes. Knowing that stories and tradition were passed down from generation to generation makes the assumption that it has the same meaning today is a rather safe one. The turtle is the traditional giver of the earth. It also symbolizes long life. I included a turtle shield petroglyph in this piece for that reason. To shield and protect, with the hopes of a long life."
Interestingly, Halsey-Dutton has used shadowbox framing to underscore the cultural importance of the theme and suggest a treasured museum artifact. This piece is painted on heavy-weight archival watercolor paper, and the manner of paint application was intended to convey age and weathering. In addition, the paper's deckled edge further imbues the piece with a sense of history.
About the artist: Bonnie Halsey-Dutton was born and raised in South Dakota and is inspired by the local cultures where she resides as well as their history. She is both a professional visual artist and a fine arts educator, holding a PhD in Art History and Education from the University of Arizona. Bonnie Halsey-Dutton exhibits her artwork both nationally and internationally, and also teaches art education workshops at home and abroad.
Provenance: private Spearfish, South Dakota, USA collection
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#181229
- Condition: Overall excellent and demonstrates impressive artistry and technique. Signed and dated at bottom right (along the edge of the rightmost tassel suspended from the shield). Signature, title, and date on verso as well. The artist has floated this painting in a deep clear acrylic shadowbox frame. The paper is mounted upon archival black foam core that has been permanently attached to a faux-painted heavy Masonite backing. Fit with suspension wire and ready to display. Halsey-Dutton's informative description and COA is attached to the verso of this piece.
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