Stained glass, smalti glass, dichroic glass, silver, turquoise, nickel, bone Hairpipe

I became interested in Quanah Parker (circa 1852-1911) after reading about his mother Cynthia Ann Parker, taken in 1836 at age 9 during a raid by Comanches on their settler family’s Texas home, which they had named Fort Parker. Cynthia Ann, happily integrated into the Comanche way of life, married Comanche warrior Peta Nocona. Quanah, the oldest of their three children, grew up to be a great leader and Chief of his people through both the pre- and post-reservation periods. I admire him for his strength, intelligence, adaptability, and pragmatism.

This life-sized mosaic tribute to Quanah is inspired by a black and white photograph taken by Lanney circa 1892, now in the National Archives. My humble intention is to honor Chief Parker, by depicting in strong vibrant colors how he may have looked at this moment in 1892. My research included a serendipitous opportunity to speak to a descendant when contacting the Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center in Lawton, OK. Our conversation helped me make an educated guess about how Quanah Parker may have looked in person on the occasion of the photograph.

An important part of creating this art was researching and learning about the subject's history. Details like the scarf clip, hairpipe bone breastplate, and silver and turquoise jewelry reference traditional materials of the time. The finished mosaic titled Quanah Parker, Last Chief of the Comanches, embodies all of my requirements for creating not only a lasting work of art, but also a meaningful experience for anyone who might want to know more.