Hootenanny: Buffalo Horn Artforms

Hootenanny is pleased to introduce you to Buffalo Horn Artforms and the original Lakota art of Kevin and Valerie Pourier.

Kevin and Valerie Pourier are Oglala Lakota. Their home and studio are located on the Pine Ridge Reservation's Medicine Root District on the beautiful northern edge of the South Dakota Badlands. The inspiration, material and source of the Pouriers' work is rightly ascribed to the Pte Oyate kin, the "Buf falo People" or the Lakota as we know them. As partners, Valerie and Kevin are pleased to cultivate the idea that their work not only comes out of the lifestyles of the Lakota People, but is, moreover, a new cultural art-form. Working collaboratively, they craft elegant, wearable sculptural forms made of buffalo horn that is shaped, carved and inlaid with semi-precious minerals.

They also create contemporary Buffalo Horn Spoons in the traditional manner, many of which have t aken top awards at prestigious national art shows. It is no wonder that their simple yet highly refined art-form is much sought after by museums, galleries and art lovers the world over. In the Lakota way, the Pouriers learn by doing. Their love for the lifeways of the Lakota people and their love of the art ways of the many northern plains peoples has deepened their understanding and broadened their vision of what Lakota art was, is, and can be. Throughout this jou rney they have learned much that helps them to become better human beings.

Recently, Hootenanny had a chance to talk with Kevin one-on-one.

Q: Kevin, where and when do you exhibit?

A: Our work can be seen at Santa Fe Indian Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico every August and the Heard Museum Art Market in Phoenix, Arizona held the first weekend of March. We are planning on adding a few other shows possibly branching out of the Native art venues and showing at some of the craft shows that are resulting in very impressive sales for many artists. One of those would hopefully be the Smithsonian Craft Show in Washington DC.

Q: Briefly trace your artistic evolution - and the establishment of Buffalo Horn Artforms.

A: I never started making jewelry to make money. I was just seeing if I could do it. I did very well the first few pieces and people wanted it. I basically gave it away to friends and family for the first year or more. I

entered a pair of earrings in a art competition and won $200 for second place and I think that was what hooked me. I was determined that I could make a better piece than the one that won. That challenge to myself still goes on today after 14 years of making art.

Q: What inspires your themes and choice of material? For example, was there a progression from jewelry to horns and spoons or did it all happen at once?

A: A major step in going from the jewelry to the spoons and cups was I needed a bigger "canvas" to work on. I started with simple designs but soon realized that this larger space would be perfect to make statements. Since I began making art I have been on a journey of finding out who I am, where I come from and who my People are. Well, trying to find those things out leads to an awareness. And through this awareness comes action. Our images deal with the Lakota people's struggle against the oppression from dominant society and also our own struggles to be human.

Q: What's next for Kevin and Valerie?

A: We have been very fortunate with our art. We have won top awards at the best shows in the country. Lately we have won some very prestigious fellowships from institutions such as the Smithsonian, the Southwest Association of Indian Artists and the Bush Foundation out of St. Paul, Minnesota. One every year for the past three years. Making a living as an artist you never really know what's next. We have dreams and try to live according to those dreams.
We will continue to make our art as long as we can. The relationships that we have made on this journey with fellow artists and collectors have been what's made this whole thing worth while. We are enjoying our lives now and hope to be able to pass on what we have learned and help some young creative person to stand up and bring some new art (and controversy or lively talk) to the world.