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| Millenium Falcon Drum and Beaded Death Star Drum Stick by Artist Dallin Maybee Maple Wood, Basswood, Elk Rawhide, Acrylic, Ink and Glass Beads 18'x28"x5" (Photo: The Artist) |
I wouldn't call myself a nerd,
nor would I refer to myself as "cool." Finding myself at New
York Comic Con this past weekend, I realize I might just be a little bit
of both. Regardless, I know what I
like. A child of the 70s, it's hard not
to love all things Science Fiction, notably Star
Wars. The series, whether in books,
films, video games whatever, transcends all generations because of that whole
"Good versus Evil" thematic thing. And, as people on Earth appear to
get more stupid, who can resist challenging the idea that life is nonexistent beyond
this little ball of water and gases?
Sitting in the dark for nearly two hours with a myriad of strange beings reminds us to dream and think
of the possibilities. That's a (pardon
the pun) universal experience. Let's not
forget all the cool costumes, weaponry and gadgets that spark the imagination.
While all these scenes, space
battles are happening in the proverbial galaxy far, far away, we do have
the opportunity to live in a world that offers art as one of its most valuable
currencies. And while I'm not sure what
that would translate to in Renminbi, I do know you can't put a price tag on its
importance to humanity as a catalyst for and vessel of imagination.
It's always exciting to see
aspects of other cultures converging with art and the mainstream. Contemporary Native American art, too, is pushing
its way into the limelight because Native artists are celebrating our pop art
roots like no one else. And, it isn't
just Millenials either!
That's why I love this Millenium
Falcon drum and Death Star drumstick made by Northern Arapaho/Seneca artist
Dallin Maybee. The drum is made with a maple wood frame and
a carved basswood extension covered by elk rawhide. He
then painted it with a metallic base and augmented it with ink. "Of course, it was easier to
take the round hand drum and adapt it rather than to try and stretch the
rawhide around the shape of the Millenium Falcon," says Maybee.
The Death Star drumstick is a brain tan
buckskin ball attached to a handle which Maybee painted with acrylic. A noted
and skilled traditional Native American bead artist, he then adorned the handle
with 13/0 cut glass beads.
Why did Maybee choose to create the drum as a show piece for a recent art
event in Oklahoma
Maybee grew up with the Star Wars
saga, and what better way to acknowledge
the fan boy culture than by creating indigenized art pieces inspired by the
series? "I loved the independence
and nomadic lifestyle of Han and Chewie, " he says. "I saw a lot of
my culture in them--perhaps myself."
Dallin Maybee has a whole series of Star
Wars-related projects in the works and sees this drum as a successful
prototype for others to follow. For more
information, visit http://www.turquoisehousegallery.com/Artist/Artist%20Pages/Dallin%20Maybee.html
