Description:
Watercolor on Paper. Signed l.r.: Asawaya '49, Stamped u.r.: PLANCHE 19.
From: American Indian Painters, Vol. 1, p. 15: Jesse is a newcomer among Indian painters. He took up art as a profession only after he was mustered out of military life. He served in the United States Navy, mostly in the South Pacific theatre of war, and saw much action. Jesse was born in 1921 and brought up among Whites. He is one more of our Oklahoma Indians who has availed himself of the opportunities offered at the University of Oklahoma Art School, and received the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1949. Only occasionally does he revert to his Indian heritage artistically; usually when he entered work in the contest for award at the Indian Art Exhibitions. He will doubtless find his future career in the White man's world and become completely absorbed in it. Last summer, he and his family travelled extensively in the west and had occasion to visit many Indian tribes. He returned with the comment, "I have seen a lost of Indians. I believe that I am now more one of them." His decision to see and study his own race was probably inspired from attending my illustrated university lectures on Indian art. He is married to a university-trained Kiowa girl. Jesse's paintings of Indian subjects are rare. "The Comanche Scouts" was painted especially for this volume. It is Indian, but reveals art schooling. (Courtesy of the Artist)