Doug Hyde (Nez Perce/Assiniboine/Chippewa) b. 1946
"Flag Song,"
1983
Tennessee pink marble, 70" x 63" x 19"
The Heard Museum, Phoenix,
Arizona
Doug Hyde was a student of Allan Houser's at IAIA in the
mid-1960s, during its peak as "the" Indian art school. He adopted the Houser
style of sculpting. The Houser-esque style is distinctive for heavy curved
forms, fluid lines and foreshortened bodies with oversized hands. Hyde has been
very successful in maintaining and continuing the Houser style.
His sculpture "Flag Song," represents the contemporary custom of
honoring veterans by many Northern Plains cultures. This modern day activity is
usually practiced during gatherings on Veterans Day and is grounded in the
ancient ceremonies of honoring warriors. Both men and women participate in the
ceremony according to society membership.
In Hyde's stone version, each figure is wearing a blanket.
Compositionally, this allows for a solid and curvelinear rendering of the
stone, a hallmark of the "Indian" sculpture. The male figure is holding his
wide brimmed hat in his hand as a symbol of respect during the ceremony. The
female figure is carrying an eagle feather fan. The eagle is held in high
esteem by many Indian tribes as a symbol for strength and beauty.
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