23: FRANCIS BLACKBEAR BOSIN (1921-1980) PUBLISHED PAINTING

Francis Blackbear Bosin (1921-1980)
Three Drummers War Dance (Third quarter of the 20th century)
The original work on artist's illustration board documenting a Comanche or Kiowa war dance is signed lower right front. This work is published on page 49 of Blackbear Bosin: Keeper of the Indian Spirit by David Simmonds, Ph.D. published by Carriage Factory Gallery, Newton, Kansas Fine Arts Association Inc, 2012. This painting was purchased from the artist's estate through David Simmonds, the artist's stepson.

The following is taken from the book's dust jacket, A self-taught artist, Blackbear Bosin (1921-1980) immortalized the spirit of a bygone era in his art. He rose to national prominence after his award winning painting Prairie Fire was published in National Geographic magazine in 1955. His works were exhibited at museums across the country, including the National Gallery and Smithsonian Institution, and in 1965 he was the only American Indian invited to the White House Festival of Arts. His sculpture 'Keeper of the Plains' stands majestically in Wichita, Kansas, at the confluence of the Big and Little Arkansas rivers, considered a sacred place by Native Americans.

Exhibitions: Festival of Arts, White House, Wash., DC, 1965; Whitney Gallery of Western Art, 1966; Nat. Indian Ann., Philbrook Art Ctr., 1967; Heard Mus., 1967; Wichita Art Assn., 1971. Awards: Grand award, Philbrook Art Ctr., 1959-1963; Waite Phillips Special Indian Artists Award, 1967.


Member: Wichita Artists Guild (v. pres., 1963-1966); Wichita Advertising Assn.


Work: Wichita Art Mus.; Wichita Art Assn.; Philbrook Art Ctr.; Heard Mus., Phoenix; Whitney Gallery of Western Art, Cody, WY. Commissions: sculpture design for city, Kansas Gas & Electric, Wichita, 1969; mural, commissioned by Schafer, Schirmer & Eflin for Farmers Credit Land Bank, Wichita, 1972; painting, Southern Plains Mus., Anadarko, 1972.




Image measures 15.5 x 20 with a framed size of 27.75 x 31.75 inches.
Very good original untouched condition. There are no issues of scratches, losses, stain, repair, in-painting or touch-up.
Provenance: The Susan Koehn Estate Trust Newton, Kansas
$600 - $900