Artwork copyright Dana Boussard. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Dana Boussard. Photo courtesy of the artist (black and white photo).

Just Another Village, 1979

Dana Boussard
American (born 1944)

Location: Washington State Arts Commission, Olympia

About the Artwork

Just Another Village is a tapestry created by artist Dana Boussard. The imagery features human figures and teepee forms amid bold geometric designs. She created the composition using different layers of dyed velvet and canvas. She notes, "The Plains Indians were warriors as well as nomads and hunters. Just Another Village represents a record kept by the winning Tribe after a successful battle over another Indian camp. At the end of a battle, it was customary for this winning Tribe to make a brag skin, or a pictorial story of the battle. In this brag skin, the teepees are symbolically depicted right side up and upside down showing the chaos of that battle. The stripes along the sides tell that the defeated camp lay on a river."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Washington State Arts Commission.

About the Artist

Montana-based artist Dana Boussard creates narrative-driven paintings, drawings, fiber works, and glass installations. Her works explore concepts of home, memory and spirituality. She received the Montana Governor's Arts Award in 1987. Boussard is a non-Native artist.