Evening star., 1937-04-11
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT


Designs for the proposed series of
Indian stamps were received in WASH
ington yesterday. They are the work
OF Waano-Gano, an Indian artist re-
siding in Los Angeles. and represent
fundamental Indian conceptions of
beauty. 1t is expected that they will
be submitted to President Roosevelt
in the course of this week.
The first design is entitled "Invoca-
ton and is described as depicting
AN appeal for wisdom. health and
happiness as voiced by the new spirit
of the American Indian-a prayer for
the suns golden rays of health, for
light or wisdom, for rain or happiness,
for food. materially and spiritually,
and for better things as expressed by
the outStretched arms of this SYM
bolic, spiritual figure Of an Indian"
In the second design, called Pro
lection" an Indian kneeling with an
arrow poised in bow ready to be
shot is shown. Waano-Gano says:
This weapon was formerly the In
dams principal means of obtaining
a decent livelihood. 1t afforded him
protection against his enemies and
wild animals. Today, education pro-
vides the weapons and tools of a new
age, equipping the Indian with the
essentials for procuring a respectable
living and defense against the COM
plications Of modern age Briefly
today, education is the Indians pro-
lection"
The third design, captioned "Ambi-
tion,' portrays an Indian riding an
arrow across the sky. Behind the
flight of an arrow" the artist explains,
lis usually some definite aim or pur-
pose. Ahead of it, target or goal
Thus, ambition is symbolized by this
spiritual flight of an arrow, sailing
through the realm of high ideals and
lofty principles, indicated by its prox-
unity to the sun, clouds and rainbow"
All three compositions are replicas
of murals painted by Waano-Gano on
the walls of Sherman Institute, Riv-
erdale, Calf. The philosophy reflect
ed in them is summarized by their
spOllooI III t4lS WI Us nave lTleu
to use the tonal qualities Of the white
man together with the symbolism of
the Indian, much as an Indian friend
OF mlne-a muSiCian-SucceSfull
adapted the songs of his people to
the use of his Indian orchestra This
is especially true of the sun and rain
bow. Here I have tried to create
the effect of the sun through all of
its many transitions, from sunrise to
sunset. In the legends and myths
of the lake people (Chippewas) I
have heard the story of the spirit
flowers which form the rainbow
bridge over which the spirit of the
Indian passes on his way to the
eternal world of harmony or so-called
happy hunting ground Thus the
elaboration upon the rainbow, that
it might have additional Importance
beyond that which Is impaired to it
here in the Southwest. The idea OF
the geometrical figures was inspired
by the designs found on old pieces
of wampum, basketry, pottery, bead
and quill work and on blankets of
native craftsmanship"
Waano-Gano also is preparing a
sketch for an airmail stamp, the out
line to include the traditional thun-
der-bird symbol. He is a Cherokee,
whose parents ancestral home was
in North Carolina. Born March 3,
1906, he has studied in the public
schools Of Los Angeles and in the
c. Won Schneidau, Theodore N. Lu-
kits and Hanson Puthuff art schools.
He created the Indian honor award
medals presented to the greatest
living Indians" 1933-1936; painted
the murals of the children's ward
in the Los Angeles General Hospital,
executed a testimonial panel present.
ed to Dean Cornwell by the Los
Angeles Art Commission, exhibited at
the Century of Progress Exposition
at Chicago and is illustrating a series
OF books of folk tales for children.
Secretary of the Interior Harold L.
1ckea and John Collier, commissioner
of Indian affairs, are interested in the
stamp project.
Max G. Johl, author Of the King