I heard a story of a Native American girl and a violin. Her name was
Zitkala-sa. I was given this broken violin and Indian doll head and knew they were destined to be a tribute to this remarkable woman's life.
 |
| A Native American bead design was recreated with paint. |
She was born in 1876 on the Yankton Indian Reservation in South Dakota. As a child she was taken from her family by Quaker missionaries to live at the White's Manual Labor Institute in Indiana.
 |
The edges of the violin I hand beaded with glue and beads, one by one.
This part took over 4 hours. |
While at school she discovered her musical talents and learned to play the violin...eventually even writing "The Sun Dance Opera."
 |
| Zitkala-sa translates to "Red Bird", I drew these with paint pens. |
She went on to further her education beyond the housekeeper training prescribed for all young girls. She obtained her diploma and gave a speech on women's inequality, which received high praise.
 |
| Around the edge of the painted design I added more embellishments. |
She went on to pursue a degree in higher education and played violin with the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. In 1900 she played violin at the
Paris Exposition.
 |
| Adding to the design.... |
 |
| On the back of the violin I added a photo of Zitkala-sa with her violin from the year 1898. |
 |
A quote from her writings reflecting on the time she was torn from her mother. All the writing was done with a white Signo pigment ink pen, that I got from my friend Marianne.
|
 |
| The entire back of the piece. |
Zitakala-sa not only advocated for the rights of Indians but the rights of women as well and was a key figure in the suffrage movement in the 1920's.
 |
| At the top of the violin I added this porcelain dolls head which reminded me of Zitkala-sa before her braids were cut off at school. The "19 crimes" wine cork which comes from an Australian Wine to me, represents the crimes against the Native Americans. |
Here is the piece in its entirety. I added some wind catchers given to me by a friend as well as a hand beaded bracelet on leather, and a piece of violin music, Beethoven's "Hymn of Joy". Because in the end she overcame her suffering and was a beacon of light for women and persons of color.
