Visions of Lewis and Clark

The “Visions of Lewis and Clark” kite collection is based on This exhibit also says thank you to the Native American nations actual quotes from the journals of Captains Lewis and Clark. that assisted the Corps members across native lands. Some are tributes kites, honoring people or places that the Corps of Discovery encountered and documented on their Kite flying is… journey. Made by the greatest kite builders in America, the some kites, kites all fly well, have unique sparring styles, exhibit fine some winds, craftsmanship and use innovative, artistic materials. and a few good friends.

This exhibit interprets events from 1803 until 1806 when the thirty-three explorers made their arduous journey across America. Everyone in the Corps is remembered again when people see these pictures in the sky. Each kite tells a story Terry Zee Lee about our grandest, national, multicultural adventure. President

Title: Tribute to Jefferson

Kite Builder: Harold Ames of Virginia Kite Size: 11’ by 8’ 2” Kite Style and Materials: adapted from Japanese Shirone style kite with washi paper skin and bamboo frame to the modern materials of ripstop nylon skin and carbon graphite.

Kite Topic: President Thomas Jefferson to Lewis - June 20, 1803 “The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri River and such principal stream of it, as, by its course and communication with the waters of the Pacific Ocean, whether the Columbia, Oregon Colorado or any other river may offer the most direct and practical water communication across this content for the purposes of commerce.”

Ames and his wife decided to take a tour of Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello, and while there he was saw the original 1805 Edgehill Portrait of Thomas Jefferson by Gilbert Stuart that hangs in the entrance hall. Instantly he knew that he wanted to see Thomas Jefferson’s face rather than his words flying with the clouds.

Title: Monumental Task

Kite Builder: Deb Lenzen of North Dakota Kite Size: 6’ Rokkaku Kite Style and Materials: Rokkaku kite style, 3/4 ounce ripstop nylon sewn with an appliqué technique, framed in fiberglass and carbon.

Kite Topic: A Tribute to the Captains Captain Meriwether Lewis, Aug. 18, 1774 – Oct. 11, 1809 Captain William Clark, Aug. 1, 1770 — Sept. 1, 1838

Deb Lenzen decided to use the symbol that most Americans recognize: the silhouettes of Lewis and Clark found on the highway markers of the trail. The explorers are facing west, imagining their journey to the Big Waters of the Pacific Ocean. They figuratively are standing in the foothills of the Rockies with the Missouri River at their feet. The blazing sunset before them serves as a beacon forever pulling them westward to the Big Waters of the Pacific Ocean. They will cross green fertile valleys and foreboding mountain ranges, but the setting sun will continue to lead them toward their goal. Title: Roster of the Corps

Kite Builder: Sam Huston (deceased) of Washington State Kite Size: 40’ x 36” Kite Style and Materials: ripstop nylon with appliqué letters.

Kite Topic: Tribute kite to the Corps of Discovery. This kite lists the Corps of Discovery members that left Fort Mandan for the Pacific. An accurate list of names and spellings took more than one effort because the explorers’ journals are not known for accurate spelling. Even so, there is one “n” missing from Charbonneau, and Huston’s kite was nearly complete when he discovered the missing letter. He excused the error and determined that the omission was deliberate, in the fashion of the Persian rug maker. The rug maker’s claim is that to attempt to make something perfect is to try to emulate God so a discrepancy is always included.

Title: Musquetoe Torment and the Dog Seaman

Kite Builder: Sharon Musto, Winnipeg, MB, Canada Kite Size: about 6’ by 4’

Kite Style and Materials: The mosquito kite has never been made before; it was invented for this exhibition, but evolved from a double hexagonal noodle prototype. The black lines are all individual spars. The spars suggest the jointed legs found in insects. When kite is in the air, its wings flap all the time not unlike mosquito wings.

Kite Topics: Lewis – September 11, 1803 “My dog was of the Newfoundland breed, very active, strong and docile.” Lewis – July 15, 1806 “The mosquitoes continue to infest us in such a manner that we can scarcely exist . . . . My dog even howls with the torture he experiences from them.” The kite represents the hordes of nasty mosquitoes that tormented the entire Corps of discovery, including Meriweather Lewis’ dog Seaman. This female mosquito points down menacingly at her target. The kite builder cringes when she tries to imagine the unrelenting torture that the explorers and their dog endured that summer. Although this “dogg of the Newfoundland breed” is mentioned frequently in the journals, there is not a lot of detail. Lewis never explained why he bought this breed, although it was certainly a good choice due to its size, strength, and ability to swim.

Title: Montana Prairie, Coyotes and Prairie Dogs

Kite Builder: Betty Street of Texas Kite Size: 8’ Kite Style and Materials: patchwork nylon Rokkaku kite – Quilting technique using hundreds of small pieces

Kite Topic: Lewis - May 23, 1804 “The country is as yesterday beautiful in the extreme . . . the small wolf or burrowing animals are very active, fleet and frequently bark . . . of a pale, reddish brown color, the eye a deep sea green . . . .” Lewis - May 5, 1805 “There is a large assemblage of the burrows of the Burrowing Squirrel . . .; I am astonished how this anamal exists as it dose without water. . .” The team was amazed that the animals could survive without water as there was no obvious available water anywhere. Coyotes were described as a small burrowing wolf with golden coat and pale green eyes and had never been seen before. Title: Spirit of the Horses

Kite Builder: built by Steve Ferrell / painted by Terry Zee Lee Kite Size: 8’ Kite Style and Materials: ripstop nylon rokakku

Kite Topic: Lewis – letter to Jefferson on April 7, 1805 “The circumstances of the Snake Indians possessing large quantities of horses, is much in our favor, as by means of horses, the transportation of our baggage will be rendered easy and expeditiously overland, from the Missouri to the Columbia.” Horses were important to the Native Americans as well as to the Corps of Discovery. Native Americans believed horses were gifts from the Great Spirit. Lewis knew if the Corps hadn’t found the Snake Indians, and if the Snakes hadn’t chosen to help the Corps, the members of Lewis and Clark’s group wouldn’t have made it over the mountains and the journey to the Pacific would have failed. The Indians’ gift of the horses was the key to the success of the journey.

Title: Wild Horses Kite Topic: Tribute kite to the horses Susan Lennon decided to do horses because these animals were Kite Builder: Susan Lennon key to journey’s success. Horses provided transportation for the Kite Size: 10’ wide x 3’ high men and their provisions, food and barter material. The horses Kite Style and Materials: Genki- shaped kite made by painting on know that their survival is in their unity, and it just seemed right ripstop nylon with Sharpie markers, then gone over with a rag to have four of them charging out at the viewer. This design was doused in alcohol to diffuse the color. in honor of their strength, agility and beauty.

Title: Nine Feathers

Kite Builders: Eric Curtis and Ann Sloboda of St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada Kite Size: 8’ Kite Style and Materials: Rokkaku kite – silkscreened onto ripstop nylon with five handmade nylon feathers

Kite Topic: This tribute kite honors various Native Americans who assisted the Corps on their journey. Four chiefs, represented by the four eagle feathers on the main quadrants, continually helped the Corps by feeding them, taking them in, and supplying horses and materials. The Corps needed help to get east over mountains in 1806 because points of reference were gone from the trees, a result of winter conditions. Five young Nez Perce men, who acted as guides, are represented by the five hawk feathers that hang from the points of the kite. The background is divided into four sections with colors chosen to represent the four cardinal points of the compass. The color scheme of white, yellow, red and black is basic to native traditions as are the organic connecting lines of the feathers’ wrappings. Title: Pablo . . . in honor of the Bears

Kite Builder: Adrianne Balmer of Virginia Kite Size: 17’4” Kite Style and Materials: two-line hand painted ripstop nylon figure kite

Kite Topic: Lewis - May 6, 1805 “I find that the curiosity of our party is pretty well satisfied with respect to this animal. The formidable appearance of the male bear killed on the 5th, plus the difficulties with which they die has staggered the resolution of several of them. Captain Clark and Drouillard killed the largest brown bear which we have yet seen. He measures 8’7” from nose to hindfoot.”

Title: Ghost Herds

Kite Builder: Barbara Meyer of Minnesota Kite Size: 12’ wide with a 30’ tail Kite Style and Materials: double delta coyne, ripstop nylon, appliquéd and pierced

Kite Topic: Lewis - April 16, 1805 “We saw immense quantities of game in every direction around us as we passed up the river; consisting of heards of buffaloe, Elk, and Antelope with some deer and woolves.” Lewis – May 26, 1805 “These points of the Rocky Mountains were covred with snow and the sun shone on it in such a manner to give me the most plain and satisfactory view.” The mountains appeared over the horizon each day as the Corps of Discovery traveled. The peaks gradually became more defined, revealing additional details as the shadows beckoned them forward. This was the feeling Meyers wanted to convey. Bright blue represents both the sky and the distant ridgeline; the gold represents sunshine; the gray, tan, and lavender reflect the colors of the snow, earth, and shadows cast by daylight and clouds. The peaks, the valleys, the summit and the foothills are represented in the patterning of the wings.

Title: First Day of the Great Falls

Kite Builders: Built by Dave Butler and painted by Diane Butler of Oregon Kite Size: 36” wide x 8’ high Kite Style and Materials: This Edo kite is made of 100% cotton batik, hand-painted. It has unique sparring on the back.

Kite Topic: Lewis – Thursday, June 13, 1805 “I hurried down the hill which was about 200 feet high and difficult of access to gaze on this sublimely grand specticle . . . on my right formes the grandest sight I ever beheld.” Lewis – Friday, June 14, 1805 “. . . I over looked a beatifull an extnsive plain reaching from the river to the base of the snow-clad mountains. I also observed the missoury stretching its meandering course to the south.” Lewis: Thursday June 13, 1805 “I had proceded about two miles with Goodrich at some distance behind me when my ears were saluted with the agreeable sound of a fall of water and advancing a litter further I saw the spray arise above the plain like a collumn of smoke which would frequently dispear again in an instant caused I presume by the wind wich blew pretty hard from the S.W. I did not however lose my direction to this point which soon began to make a roaring too tremendious to be mistaken for any cause short of the great falls of the Missouri.” Title: Snake Dance documented for the first time. The paintings on Denton’s kite are bull Kite Builder: Tim Denton (deceased) of snakes and rattlers. During mating season, Colorado when male snakes do fight, they wind Kite Size: 8’ Delta together until they fall over. Then, they go Kite Style and Materials: ripstop nylon at it again. This ritual is rarely witnessed appliquéd Delta with hand-painted snakes in the wild. Tim Denton commented that Kite Topic: Clark - June 15, 1805 “added he chose a Delta kite for two to those dificuelties the rattle snakes reasons. First, it provided innumerable and require great caution to a large “canvas” and prevent being bitten . . .” second, the kite had Snakes were mentioned 27 times in the to fly. The Delta is an journals and were a daily problem for the easy, but powerful kite to fly, so this choice explorers. Many new species were seen and was simple for a novice kite flyer.

Title: Native Angels

Kite Builder: JoAnne Weber (deceased) of Minnesota Kite Size: 3’ wide x 12’ high Kite Style and Materials: low aspect bowed ripstop with appliqué kite work

Kite Topics: Tribute kite to the Native American women that continually assisted the Corps of Discovery in many ways. In the top panel are Mandan huts. The Mandan women saved them in the winter, providing them with dried corn and deer and provided them with shelter during the harsh winter. The second panel represents mountains and horses. When the party arrived in the mountains looking for the Snake Indians, they came across a young girl, a teen, and an older woman. The older woman knelt and put her hands over her head expecting to be injured, but they instead gave her gifts. She led them to the Shoshone Chief Cameahwait and the horses. The bottom panel represents the Nez Perce woman Watkuweis who had been kidnapped and taken east by Indian traders. She said Lewis and Clark were like the white men that helped return her to her people and did her no harm, so the Nez Perce fed them and made them welcome.

Title: Sacajawea and the Great Blue Whale

Kite Builder: Kathy Goodwind of Washington Kite Size: 9’ wingspan and 98’ tails Kite Style and Materials: Inspired by Japanese painted kites, the kite is an appliqué where every color in it is put together in the complete shape and sown in little black lines. Parts that are not desired are cut out from the piece.

Kite Topic: Lewis - January 6, 1806 “The Indian woman was very importunate to be permitted to go, and was therefore indulged: she observed that she had traveled a long way with us to see the great waters, and that now that monstrous fish was also to be seen, she thought it very hard she could not be permitted to see either.”

Goodwind’s rendition of this stalwart young woman was intended to illustrate the inquisitive nature of Sacagawea. The great blue whale is the focus her attention and encircles the lower half of this section. The tail and front fins sneak outside the circle to indicate the freedom of movement the spirit whale seeks. Title: Montana Blood and Body

­Kite Builder: Lam Hoac, Vancouver, Canada Kite Size: 3’ x 5’ Kite Style and Materials: Modified 3’ x 5’ appliqued ripstop nylon della porta or edo with wavy cut tails falling off the bottom edge that simulate a waterfall.

Kite Topic: Tribute kite to all the rivers and mountains the Corps of Discovery discovered in their travels: the Missouri, Snake, Marias, Columbia, Jefferson, Gallatin, Madison, and the Yellowstone River. River travel was a necessity during the entire trip. And mountains ranges continued to appear, to the dismay of the Corps members who hoped to view the ocean instead of more mountain ranges. Montana Body and Blood is a tribute to all of the mountain ranges and rivers the Corps traveled on and named. The names given by the expedition honored members of the Corps, friends at home or those who helped sponsor the journey. The tail is cut in wavy lines so when it flies, it flutters like a waterfall falling off the kite into the sky. Title: Go See What is Out There

Kite Builder: Mike Gee of North Dakota Kite Size: 10’ x 8’ with three 50’ tails Kite Style and Materials: Rokkaku appliqued kite

Kite Topic: February 14, 1806 map of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition Route Mike chose to put an outline of an eye in the center of the kite, encompassing the Louisiana Purchase within the vision. The large eye, a predominant feature, represents a voyage to go see what they could see. Gee wanted an “Indian theme” to come to mind. The Native Americans that Lewis and Clark befriended along this uncharted area proved to be an invaluable source of information and new lifetime relationships. That is why this kite is in the shape of an Indian shield. He extended the cross spar past the boundaries of the kite, supporting the tail attachments to signify a ceremonial shield look. Direction was important for Mike Gee, not only for the obvious reasons of travel, but for the direction of exploration and advancement of the nation. He could best do this with a reminder of the compass, thus noting the letters of direction. Exploring the land purchased from France was as important as walking on the moon. Lewis and Clark expanded our vision with the exploration and the relations they established on this epic journey.

Title: Flock of Crows

Kite Builder: Adam Grow of Pennsylvania Kite Size: 12 crows with a 42” wingspan Kite Style and Materials: nylon and bamboo

Kite Topic: Lewis - April 4, 1806 “We saw the marten, gees the small, speckled woodpecker with a white back, the blue crested corvus, ravens, crows, eagles, vultures and hawks.” Numerous new species of birds were viewed and documented by the Corps of Discovery. Many comments in the journals showed amazement at the variety of birds these new lands revealed. A dozen crows were designed and built by Adam Grow. The crows appear, scattered throughout the exhibit, and represent the elusive Crow people. When Captain Clark and his party came down through the Yellowstone valley, he saw smoke signals and moccasins prints, but never saw any Crow warriors, who allowed the expedition members to travel through their lands without injuring them. The Corps of Discovery spent more time in Montana than in any other part of the journey. Title: Nine-cell Visions

Kite Builder: Drake Smith of Montana Kite Size: 6’ x 6’ x 4’ Kite Style and Materials: 9-cell arched box kite, (McAllister style), cellular ripstock nylon kite

Kite Topic: Tribute kite to the nine major tribes that allowed and assisted the expedition on their journey. Smith calls it “Nine-Cell Visions” after the Visions of Lewis &Clark theme. This kite serves as a reminder that, because the Native Americans allowed the Corps to travel across their lands unchallenged, the journey was successful. His research revealed a common design technique in 1800 was the use of repetitive edge border designs. The symbol in the center is a four-way lightning symbol, universal in that all tribes used it - the sign of the contraries. The Contraries were gifted and believed they were ministers of all the religions. They were allowed wander at will. Title: Rose Tree The finished kite has both three-way (color) and four-way (geometrical) symmetry, using three cells each of red, white and black backgrounds. Kite Builder: Steve Ferrell of Pennsylvania Kite Size: 3’ x 5’ with 40’ tail Kite Style and Materials: Edo kite ripstop nylon appliqué della porta with an appliquéd nylon tail

Kite Topic: Lewis - April 28, 1806 “A little songs from the opera became very popular before sunset the fiddle was played and in American culture. One was called Rose the men amused themselves with dancing Tree. Steve decided to center his kite on about an hour. We then requested the that song. Indians to dance which they very cheerfully One member of the Corps, Private Pierre complied with; they continued their dance Cruzatte, probably grew up hearing that until 10 at night. The whole assemblage of song. By day his official duty on the Lewis Indians about 550 men women and children and Clark expedition was lead boatman. He sung and danced at the same time.” navigated the rivers, avoided the obstacles, This kite celebrates entertainment on the and ensured the safe journey on the waters trail. Steve noted that the journals talked for men of The Corps of Discovery. By night about fiddle playing at the campfire. He however, Cruzatte was an “extremely well to the most popular tune of the day... Rose then wondered what a young man of 20 playing” musician. Like the water in the Tree. On the kite, the red rose is visible might be playing? In his research, he found river, his music flowed by the glow of the on the tree. The roots of the tree are the that in 1783 a light opera performed in moon and the light of the fire. tail and form the Nez Perce dancing, and Philadelphia was a George Washington While the men danced, the flames gave smoke from the campfire at the bottom favorite called The Poor Soldier. Several rise to tangles of smoke that also danced forms name Rose Tree.

Title: Fir Trees on Fire

Kite Builder: Mary and John Gabby of Colorado Kite Size: 10’ wide with 40” tails Kite Style and Materials: ripstop nylon appliqued Genki

Kite Topic: Lewis - June 25, 1806 “Last evening the Indians entertained us with setting the fir trees on fire. They have a great number of dry lims . . . which, when set on fire create a very sudden and immense blaze from top to bottom of those tall trees.” The night before Nez Perce youth left Lewis and Clark after bringing them back east over the mountains in 1806, they lit fir trees on fire. They believed the entire expedition would soon be annihilated by the Sioux and this was their way of showing respect. Native American people love this kite because, to them, it looks like a teepee encampment with fires glowing at night. The “Fir Trees on Fire” quote was chosen because Mary Gabby enjoys working with fire colors. She tried to carry through with the feeling of the trees exploding into flames in the dry heat of summer. Title: Clark and Party on the Yellowstone

Kite Builder: Jose ́ Sainz of California Kite Size: 6’ with a 30’ tail Kite Style and Materials: circular seven sisters ripstop nylon kite with appliquéd scenes and a 30’ nylon tail

Kite Topic: Clark – Sunday, July 13, 1806 “My party now consists of the following persons viz Sergant N. Pryor, Jo Shields, G. Shannon William Bratton, Labrech, Windsor, H. Hall, Gibson, Interpreter Shabono his wife and child and my man York; with 49 horses and a colt.” Numerous activities and incidents occurred during the Yellowstone River trip. Each canoe carried a party of seven people. The canoe image in the kite tail is the exact size as the original canoes used during navigation of the Yellowstone River. The images include: Clark on the Yellowstone, horses with moccasins on their feet because of soreness from the cactus and mountain crossing, canoes going down river, Sacagawea pointing out the right way to go, Pompey’s Pillar, buffalo herds, and a compass.

Title: Fish of the Rochejuane

Kite Builder: Ron Gibian of California Kite Size: 2’ wide x 8’ tall Kite Style and Materials: low aspect, bowed ripstop nylon appliquéd kite, no name because the kite is a newly invented style for this exhibit Kite Topic: Clark – June 25, to take my small party and self stripes and dots of reds that 1805 “We catch great numbers with what little baggage we they found on fish in that river. of trout, a kind of mussell, flat have down this river.” Fish was a mainstay of the back and a soft fish resemlling Symbols include a river coming Corps diet on the entire trip. a shad and a few catfish…” out of the mountains, the Fresh fish and dried fish were Clark - July 19, 1806 “I Yellowstone or Rochejuane sometimes the only protein determined to have two (Roe – sha – shone); the they received for days on end. canoes made out of the tallest yellow reflected sun; and the The kite is simple and elegant. of those trees, and lash them explorer’s amazement at the Ron Gibian, a fan of catch and together which will cause them abundance of fish. Reds on the release, combines fishing time to be sturdy and fully sufficient fish refer to the many different with kite trips.

Title: Crows Stealing the Buffalo Ponies

Kite Builder: John Pollock of Montana Kite Size: 14’ x 4’ Kite Style & Materials: modified Edo, hand painted & silk-screened

Kite Topic: July 21- 25, 1806 the Crows who left few signs. The image on the kite is hand The party started out with 49 On the third night, the rest of painted using screen ink. horses and a colt. On July 21st, the horses were taken, even Pollock’s interpretation of Sgt. Pryor tried to push the with extra guards. No one the story took some symbolic horses as a group down the heard anything. liberties. The elusive Crows are Yellowstone Valley, but ponies The horses were supposed visualized as the actual birds were trained to take off at a to be taken overland to give that the Native American tribe buffalo sighting. This made it to Mandan chiefs as gifts. was named after. The ponies hard to keep them together. Unfortunately, Pryor and the are being captured and flown Pryor was told to get up early in other men had no horses to away by those birds. There is the morning and shoo buffalo continue. They built bull boats a buffalo disguised on one of away. That night, however, half with buffalo skins and willow the ponies to be found by the of horses were gone, taken by branches. viewer. Title: A Remarkable Rock

Kite Builder: John Burkhardt of Maryland Kite Size: 5’ x 8’ Kite Style and Materials: ripstop nylon appliqué Edo Kite Kite Topic: Clark - July 25, 1806 “I it Pompey’s Tower. The Native Americans proceeded on after the rain lay a little and called it “The Rock Where Mountain Lions at 4pm arrived at a remarkable rock . . . Sleep.” this rock I ascended and from its top had Engraved on the rock is Clark’s signature a most extensive view in every direction. and the date that he and his party were The natives have engraved on the face of there, which is the only physical evidence this rock the figures of animals and c. near left of the entire expedition. A copy of his which I marked my name and the date of signature and a lion paw print appear in the month and year.” the right-hand corner of the kite. Pomp was a nickname given by Clark to Clark measured the circumference and Sacagawea’s little son. In Shoshone, it width of rock. He climbed on top, and means Little chief. Clark named Pompey’s made notes about buffalo and vistas he Pillar after the child, but at the time called could see from there.

Title: Sacajawea and Pomp

Kite Builder: Charlie Dunton of Virginia Kite Size: 8’ Kite Style and Materials: ripstop nylon appliquéd Rokkaku

Kite Topic: “Your woman, who represents Sacagawea’s son, Pomp, for accompanied you that long and fatigueing whom Pompey’s Pillar in the background rout to the Pacific Ocean and back, is named. deserved a greater reward for her Sacagawea deserves great respect for attention and services on that rout than her efforts. She hunted for food, created we had in our power to give her.” medicines, gave accurate directions and, The Sacagawea model, Randy’L He-Dow by being a member of the group with a Teton, featured on this kite, is the same child on her back, showed approaching woman who modeled for the Sacagawea tribes that the Corps was friendly and not dollar. Charlie Dutton, the designer, a war party. photographed her. The baby is from an Charlie Dutton, a NASA engineer, only Edward Curtis photo of an Indian baby designs and builds Native American taken in the late Ninteenth Century, and themed kites, in honor of his wife.

Title: The Journals, The Journey

Kite Builder: Randy Shannon of Arizona Kite Size: 12’ x 20’ Kite Style and Materials: hand painted Edo dako on Tyvek

Kite Topic: Final journal entry by Clark, Corps of Discovery is visible. According to September 26, 1806 “a fine morning. We the designer, the other half of the story is commenced writing.” what led up to the expedition and what Theodore Roosevelt said about the Journals, happened after stories about the expedition “Few explorers who saw and did so much resulted in the opening of the West. that was absolutely new have written The Journals appear as leather bound with of their deeds with such quiet absence the idea of a trail on it. Marks on the trail of boastfulness, and have drawn their represent all the locations where the Corps descriptions with such compleat freedom members camped. All rope used on the from exaggeration.” expedition was made of hemp so all the This journal kite entry represents only half bridling on this kite is made from hemp. of the story; therefore, only half of the name Title: Big Medicine

Kite Artist: Ed Hamilton of Louisville, Kentucky Kite Builder: Drake Smith Kite Size: 30” wide by 6’ tall Kite Style and Materials: modified Edo kite hand painted on 100% cotton material

Kite Topic: York, Captain Clark’s loyal man servant, was an integral part of the Corps of Discovery. He repeatedly saved the lives of Corps members by his quick response in difficult situations. He was the first African American to be allowed to vote, with his vote carrying the same weight as other expedition members. York carried a gun and knife and virtually was a free man during the years of travel across the West with the Corps. He eventually was given his freedom and settled in the Louisville area. The Native Americans that met York called him Big Medicine. Famous bronze sculptor Ed Hamilton was selected by Louisville to paint the Big Medicine kite. It was added to the exhibit in 2011 when the Visions of Lewis and Clark collection was in Louisville, Kentucky at the Museum of Art and Craft.

Title: Undaunted by Hail

Kite Artist: Dawn Sievers of Vaughn, Montana Kite Builder: Drake Smith Kite Size: 6’ wide x 3’ high Kite Style and Materials: Modified Delta kite made of silk with watercolor paint

Kite Topic: Dawn Sievers held up her winning kite design at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center during an unveiling ceremony by the Lewis and Clark Foundation. Her design, “Undaunted by Hail,” is based on a journal entry from William Clark on June 27, 1805. Clark wrote about a huge hailstorm that caused the Corps much misery and even killed buffalo caught out on the plains.

Sievers, an art teacher, won the competition run by the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls, Montana during the six-month kite show in 2012. She used silk and watercolors for this interpretation of the 1805 event that occurred east of where Great Falls, Montana is now located.

Title: The Meadowlark and Prickly Pear

Kite Builder: Scott R. Skinner of Colorado Kite Sizes: Meadowlark is 2’ x 3’; Prickly pear kites are about 6”x 9” up to 8” x 12” Kite Styles and Materials: Japanese kites: Meadowlark is sode-style; the cactus is many small kaku dako style. Several are Edo dako, and one is buka dako.

Kite Topic: Lewis – June 22, 1805 “The prickly of the prickly pear cactus with spines that pears were extremely troublesome to us, caused tremendous pain and bloody feet to sticking our feet through our mockersons . . the Corps. . There is a kind of lark here . . . with a yellow A kite showing the first sighting of western breast and a black spot on the croup . . . the meadowlark with a patchwork, colored form of the tail which is pointed being of breast flutters above the prickly pear. This feathers of uneven length.” sode-style kite is a simple depiction of a The lower piece, prickly pear, is 7 different bird that undoubtedly lifted spirits with its types of small Japanese kites. Each tiny kite dashing, graceful flight delightful voice. can fly independently of the others. The All the rectangular kites can easily be made small rectangular kites (kaku dako) have flyable and represent several traditional been left unpainted with unfinished bamboo styles that probably would have been flown to be used in a sculptural interpretation in Lewis and Clark’s lifetime. Title: Captain Lewis’s Brand

Kite Builder: Drake Smith of Montana Kite Size: 5’ wide x 4’ tall Kite Style and Materials: Ripstop nylon applique in a modified Ghenki style

Kite Topic: Captain Lewis had a brand made for him in 1803 at the beginning of the trip. He branded boxes, trees, and assorted other items with it. It wasn’t used to brand the horses, since a stirrup iron was used for that purpose. The brand was either lost, stolen or given away during the winter of 1805-6. In the early 1900’s the brand, minus the handle, was found on the shores of the Columbia River. The family that found it had it for many years, and eventually gave it to the Oregon Historical Society in downtown Portland. It is the pride and joy of the Oregon museum. Kite builder Drake Smith copied the brand, blew it up and added the peace and friendship logo off the peace medals that the Captains gave to chiefs along the route. Captain Lewis’s Brand was added to the Visions exhibit after the 2011 Oregon Historical Society show.

Title: Buffalo Herds

Kite Builder: Drake Smith of Montana Kite Size: 5’ wide x 4’ tall Kite Style and Materials: Ripstop nylon applique in a modified Ghenki style

Kite Topic: Buffalo covered the plains in many areas of the West. Many Native American nations depended on the herds for their food, clothing, shelter, and tools. No part of the harvested animals was wasted. The Corps of Discovery also depended on the buffalo for food, for their clothing and moccasins, for sinew and bone and hide.

Unfortunately, when the Lewis and Clark Expedition returned to the East, stories about the abundance of buffalo spread. Hunters descended on the herds, almost eradicating them in the next fifty years. This was part of the US government’s plan to also eradicate the Native American populations in the West. Fortunately for all of us, this plan failed. The buffalo now thrive.