Indian Weather Vane 1935 - 1942

This intriguing image of an Indian Weather Vane was made by Nicholas Amantea, but when? The date is a mystery, and that's alright. It makes me think about the process of making art, and how it can be more about the journey than the destination. I see a lot of texture and detail in this piece. The figure and his equipment are painted using thin, transparent paints, which creates a sense of depth and layering. Look at the way Amantea has depicted the feathers in the Indian's headdress. The spiky edges are echoed in the fringe of his skirt. The artist uses this shape to suggest movement and energy, as if the wind is blowing through the feathers and skirt. Amantea reminds me of Joseph Yoakum, another self-taught artist who had a unique vision. Like Yoakum, Amantea embraced ambiguity and multiple interpretations, leaving us with an artwork that invites us to see the world in a new way.