Indian Court Vintage Expo Posters

Based on posters designed by abstract expressionist Louis Segriest for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco – a celebration of the opening of the Golden Gate and Oakland Bay bridges. The WPS funded event included Sally Rand’s Nude Dude Ranch. The originals are silkscreen prints, available for auction periodically, go for about $1500 each.

The eight images depict:

• Pueblo Turtle Dancers

• Pomo Indian Basket

• Elkskin painting

• Haida Blanket design

• Apache Devil Dancer

• Antelope Hunt from a Navaho drawing

• Chippewa Picture Writing, Seneca Mask

• Eskimo Mask

The images themselves were depictions of works, in some cases by living artists. According to the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art:

Pomo Indian Basket was the first poster produced by Siegriest. When René d'Harnoncourt, Director of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, saw the work, he commissioned Siegriest to create an additional seven prints to promote the Indian Court exhibition.

The Pueblo turtle dancers were taken from a painting by Vicenti Mirabal (ca.1917-1945), a Taos Pueblo artist also known as Chiu-Tah. Mirabal studied art at the Santa Fe Indian School where he was later employed as an instructor.

The Mountain Spirit Dance was labeled the Apache Devil Dance by white settlers due to the unusual costumes and the ceremony which was performed by the tribe at night. The design was taken from a painting by an Apache art student of the 1930's named Dewey

The antelope hunt design was created by Narciso Platero Abeyta (1918-1998), a Navajo artist also known as Ha-So-De. Abeyta studied art at the Santa Fe Indian School and the University of New Mexico. The artist's son, Tony Abeyta, is also a professional artist. In 2004, his painting Anthem was chosen as the official image of the grand opening of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C.

Each image measures about 9 by 13 – perfect as the center panel of a small quilt, blocks for a larger quilt or use them for a tote bag or apron. The row of smaller depictions, at about 5 by 7 can be used as border, or for applique on potholders or similar.