These moccasins are iconic pieces by Anita Fields.  They are clay and made in the shape of traditional Osage mocassins.  They have flowers on the top and inside is “distorted” Osage writing.  She said of this pair:

“I have been doing a series of moccasins. They are made in the Osage style and entitled, “Flowers”.  The imagery on them is telling our story.  On the top are flowers.  For Osage people, everything is followed by earth, sky, and water.  Every system we have is representing things from earth and sky.  The inside of the moccasins have ‘distorted writing’.  Distorted writing is about the distortion of our history.  How it’s always told from one side and distorted. It’s about us telling our own stories.  What I do with the clay.”

It is a striking complement to her various designs.  The white is just a subtle relief on the surface of the black. They are signed on the bottom, “Anita Fields”   They have a blue ribbon from the 2023 Santa Fe Indian Market. 

“I have a choice…There is a time for each of us to step up and be apart of the culture.”  Anita recognizes there is a powerful connection that is made for her through cultural teachings.  [Her] hand formed ceramic works led to references found in the Osage genesis narratives.”  Anita Fields, Fluent Generations

Textures into the clay.  Starkness of black and white.

Distorted writing about distortion of our history.  How it’s always told from one side and distorted. It’s about us telling our own stories.  What I do with the clay.  Opportunity to tell things like I see them.  The figures on the back, are the creation stores.  Our creation story tells that we come from the stars.  This is our floatation down to earth. The dress represents the female.

“Anita was influenced by traditional Osage ribbon work, clothing, and blankets. She also studied the objects and ceremonial dress of other tribes. The personal and emotional elements in these textile designs led Anita to use them symbolically in clay, translating the personality of these vestments into her work. About one of her recent series, Native American Dresses, which are coil-and slab-built installations, Anita says: “The dresses convey my attitudes toward the strength of women and how native peoples show remarkable resourcefulness and adaptability toward their environment. The clothing Indian women created shows great pride, dignity, and hope in a culture facing insurmountable odds.”  

Mocassions.

Corn Woman. She has more traditional clothing.  The hands are worn for ceremony and it’s an ancient design.  It’s a photo transfer on linen.  Corn for us and important for women.  It’s asking for a nice harvest and a good home for my children.  She is wearing Osage mocassions.