Remember The Mohawks
Cast and blown glass with dremeled words and oil paints; about a foot in diameter.
There are three stories and a few proverbs written in Mohawk on the dome. One of those stories is depicted on the inside of the dome. In this story, two little boys go searching for a lost cow. In the Mohawk culture, there is a creature known as Akon:wara’ (a boogie man creature) that snatches away children after dark. As the boys search the woods for their cow, they see a shadow dodging in and out of the trees. They turn for home as the shadow follows them. They start to run as they breakthrough the forest and run down the railroad tracks where Akon:wara’ bursts from the trees in hot pursuit. As Akon:wara’ catches up, the boys see a house in the distance with a light in the window. They run for the home and dive through the door just as Akon:wara’ grabs after them. These are known as the only two boys to survive Akon:wara’.
These stories represent part of the Mohawk culture. The viewer must get close to this piece in order to fully understand what is happening on the inside. For those who choose to inspect the piece carefully, a strong and powerful line can be read along the bottom of the piece. This line starts in Mohawk and slowly translates into English:
There are three stories and a few proverbs written in Mohawk on the dome. One of those stories is depicted on the inside of the dome. In this story, two little boys go searching for a lost cow. In the Mohawk culture, there is a creature known as Akon:wara’ (a boogie man creature) that snatches away children after dark. As the boys search the woods for their cow, they see a shadow dodging in and out of the trees. They turn for home as the shadow follows them. They start to run as they breakthrough the forest and run down the railroad tracks where Akon:wara’ bursts from the trees in hot pursuit. As Akon:wara’ catches up, the boys see a house in the distance with a light in the window. They run for the home and dive through the door just as Akon:wara’ grabs after them. These are known as the only two boys to survive Akon:wara’.
These stories represent part of the Mohawk culture. The viewer must get close to this piece in order to fully understand what is happening on the inside. For those who choose to inspect the piece carefully, a strong and powerful line can be read along the bottom of the piece. This line starts in Mohawk and slowly translates into English:
"Ne sewatkwenie's ne ratihnara' kenhneha."
"The White man's way is taking over."
The piece itself is an attempt at preserving and passing on the culture of the Mohawk people. The pieces titled “Remember the Mohawks” to remind people of the Native Americans, and the battles they have fought through history as their culture has been attempted to be erased. Remember the Mohawks!
"The White man's way is taking over."
The piece itself is an attempt at preserving and passing on the culture of the Mohawk people. The pieces titled “Remember the Mohawks” to remind people of the Native Americans, and the battles they have fought through history as their culture has been attempted to be erased. Remember the Mohawks!
