Whisper n Thunder

The Whisper of Native American stories, the Thunder of stories that demand to be told.

WnT Artists Profiles

Meet Bob Schmidt
By Stephanie Deplanque

Bob Schmidt is one of the artists whose illustrations are used in Whisper n Thunder. His amazing pencil portrait of Leonard Peltier appeared in News, Leaders and Tribes in our first issue. Today we bring you a meeting with the artist behind the drawings.

Above: drawing of the Whisper n Thunder banner, after Lisa Sahani & Thunderhands design.

Bob Schmidt was born in 1961, in Kansas City, Missouri. His mother was an artist and sparked his interest in art. At 13 years old, his art teacher detected “great potential” in his drawing abilities after giving him a project to do: a portrait in pen and ink. In 1996, Bob decided to start drawing seriously. I had the opportunity to ask him a few questions about his background and personal history.

Above: Old Man Winter, Bob’s first drawing, at 13.

Stephanie D: First of all, what can you tell us about your art?

Bob Schmidt: “I’ve had no formal training other than 3 years of art class in high school. I always wanted to learn to do pencil portraits. My Mom, who was an artist, sparked my interest in drawing; she would critique my drawings to help me learn. While in junior high school, I was given a project to do a portrait in pen and ink, at 13 years of age. I drew Old Man Winter. My art teacher said I had “great potential.” That comment always made me wonder what else I could draw. But it took many years before I fully explored it!”

SD: How long have you been drawing for? Was it a vocational choice?

Bob: “Actively I have been drawing since 1996. I have two Electronic Technician degrees, and used to be a carpenter, building and wiring homes. In 1990, I developed DVT which resulted in a blood clot in my right leg. I also had 2 tumors in my right ear. After three surgeries, I lost all hearing in my right ear and partial blindness from a couple of mild strokes. All this resulted in ending my ability to do electrical work. I began to find it challenging to draw, especially with the blind spots in my center vision.”

SD: Most of your work is composed of Native American portraits, most of them great leaders and important figures. Why do you think you are so drawn to these characters?

Bob: “My family ancestry history includes Cherokee Indian; I am the 5^th great grandson of Cherokee Chief Ned Sizemore. Also, I am a great grandson of Chief Bear Hart of the Catawba Nation. He was born around 1725. Chief Bear Hart's granddaughter Anna was married to George Edward Ned Sizemore, the grandson of Chief Sizemore, in 1770 in Ashe County, North Carolina. These family members were on my Mother's Side. The Sizemore Tribe were the Cherokee who fought and managed to stay in their homeland during the Great Removal of Indians: the Trail of Tears. Although I have traced my genealogy back to him, I am not a card carrying Cherokee. I hope to find the needed official original paperwork from my grandmother’s stay at the orphanage. I have made it clear of my interest to establish the line, to confirm the family history, but I am not seeking anything financial from the Cherokee Nation. My intent is to set up a fund to help the Cherokee from a portion of my artwork sales, to help those in need. One of my
goals in addition to proving family ties to the Cherokee and Catawba, is to be accepted as a Native Artisan in both of the tribes I am related to.

In 1999, my mom told me that my artwork had surpassed her own; I was humbled by her comment. But in 2000, she passed away unexpectedly, putting a halt to the critiques she had been giving me. It was almost 4 years before I started drawing again. I started getting back into portraits after my wife, a nursing major at Missouri Western State University (MWSU), co-founded Native America Day. As a surprise I broke the art hiatus and secretly drew my first portrait of Leonard Peltier for her use at the time. I have my wife to thank for inspiring me to get back into portrait drawing. Each spring for the next few years the University requested my artwork for display at MWSU’s Native America Day.”

All Images Copyright Protected
Bob Schmidt

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Graphics from Thunderhands

Images Copyright Protected
Thunderhands

Banner Graphic: www.firstpeople.us

Meet Thunderhands
By Billie Fidlin

Thunder's work - his music, art and writings are available at Spirit of Crazy Horse online. His work appeared throughout the first issue of Whisper n Thunder and his artistic imprint compliments Lisa Sahani's WnT banner graphic on our home page. In this particular interview, we are pleased to promote his book Listen to the Wind, Speak From the Heart.

Billie F: Thunderhands - Whisper n Thunder is delighted to help announce the publication of your new book, Listen to the Wind, Speak from the Heart. What motivated you to write this?

Thunderhands: To be truthful a lot of people who read my stuff like on my blog said why don't you write a book because people need to hear this. Also I think that a book is just nice to have laying around. Then you can pick it up and open to any page and hopefully get an answer or thought that will help. Kind of like throwing the I-ching (Chinese Oracle) and getting an answer based on synchronicity or what you need to hear. I would like to think that my words will effect some kind of healing, just like the music on my cd's.

Billie F: What's the most important message young Natives need to hear today?

Thunderhands: Well there are a lot of things really. I think they need to hear and experience thoughts and traditions from the "Old Ways" and that's how I try to write. Kind of like sitting around a campfire and talking about things in counsel. They need to hear and experience things that will give them a sense of pride and hope. A lot of the younger ones have drifted away from the traditions and have become involved in other things that maybe aren't so constructive. It's not their fault, its the result of exposure to the outside world, which in general disregards the old ways or knows little about them. I think a sense of purpose is needed as well as encouragement. It's partly about trying to fit in to something that is foreign to them, when what they really need to do is embrace tradition.

Billie F: What about the message for rez & urban rez people - their struggle has been long and so difficult in so many cases...

Thunderhands: Yes it has and still is. Things are not getting better. My message would be, "Don't give in to despair and depression" be a warrior, be a spiritual warrior. I write about what it means to be a spiritual warrior in the book. It helps if you have support and tools. I think things like learning crafts, and maybe learning the martial arts and meditation like Tai Chi would help. People need to volunteer, and teach these things at a community center. Then the Rez people get out of the mode of sitting around and thinking about their problems. They have something to look forward to, like maybe even learning to play drums and or flute. The point is to get them motivated and moving around so there thoughts aren't being centered around the negativity that surrounds them. I would love to do a concert for them and speak to them but lack the funding right now. Maybe the book sales will help me get it. At any rate a portion will go to help those on the Rez.

Billie F: Where do you see the future headed for indigenous people in the United States and Canada?

Thunderhands: I want to stay optimistic and say that their future could be bright. It's all about "Spirit and Energy." I pray that the spirit of our ancestors rises again like in the sixties. It permeated the young and the hippie generation. Everyone had on head bands, moccasins, and a lot of beads. Its was almost like what "Wovoka" the medicine man or spiritual leader for the ghost dancers said about the spirit of the ancestors returning, only with a slightly different slant. I think we need more activism like in the sixties. People thought it was all peaceful back then, but they forget about the kids shot at Kent state, and the heads being bashed in at the political convention in Chicago. That's when the take-over of wounded knee happened also. People tried in peaceful ways and reasonable ways, but the powers to be wanted to make it violent. I think demonstrations are the only way things get accomplished sometimes, but that takes leadership who is thinking coherently and with purpose. We need more voices and more action. People have become complacent, we need that warrior spirit, and more spiritual warriors.

Billie F: We have so many readers, both here and abroad, that will be delighted to have your writings in hard copy. Why do you think Europeans have such a strong interest in the indigenous people of America and Canada?

Thunderhands: They are more culturally aware. They appreciate history and see things that most people in this country don't see. Just like Jazz from our country is appreciated more in France and in Europe then here. Maybe because most of these countries look at America as something good, but at the same time wonder about things. Things that might bring serious questions to their minds. Like for instance we say we are the leaders in Human rights, yet we have political prisoners like Leonard Peltier. Or we jail people without just cause. This is the tip of the iceberg so to speak.

It would be interesting to take some kind of survey. Ask them why they have a strong interest, and let them speak for themselves.

Billie F: Off subject, but I bet you have something to say...If President Obama read your book, what would you want him to take away?

Thunderhands: Well anybody that reads it is going to take something away. That's a personal thing. Lets get him to read it period. Laughs! But if I could say anything, I would say consider the overall purpose and thrust of the book.

And now a glimpse of Listen to the Wind, Speak from the Heart:

Excerpts From the section of

Native American's definition of Medicine

"Although Native Americans accept the western view of the word medicine, their understanding is much broader and encompasses a context on which their tradition is based. This can include the presence and power embodied in, or demonstrated by a person, a place, an event, an object, or natural phenomenon. It can mean the power, potency, energy, or spirit of whatever event or object is being experienced. A common phrase being "that's good medicine." Seeing a hawk fly overhead while doing a ritual or prayer can be good medicine. Other things might fall into the "Bad medicine" category."

"There are many kinds of healers. Some use herbs, while others may use words, or spiritual powers. I prefer the Lakota term "Wicasa Wakan" meaning holy or sacred man. This indicates someone who is a spiritual or a holy person, and pursues and serves the sacred and divine. The divine being Great Spirit, and all that is associated with the creator of all. Birds, flowers, herbs, and nature in general embodies the spirit of the creator."

Excerpt From the section of

Internal Strength

Keep working on that inner light or the superior self, because that serves the better good. Work towards peace and harmony within and it will be reflected without. Sometimes you can win a battle but that doesn't mean you win the war. Peace and harmony within brings good fortune for all concerned. It's about motive, we bring sorrow on ourselves and others by not being true to our higher self or good. It's like practicing the martial arts for glory and ego, or practicing it to strengthen mind, body, and spirit, and to build character and humility.