09/30/2025
In HoocÄ…k (Ho-Chunk) culture, Elders say that long ago, a bear was walking along a high knoll by the Black River in Wisconsin. As it passed in front of the sun, the brilliant glow of the bear's coat so impressed the Namegiver that he named it "Sauninga," which is the HoocÄ…k word for "The Shining One." Among many tribes, clan names are an ancient tradition by which tribal members may identify themselves, their family and their lineage. In the HoocÄ…k community, there are twelve clans, one of which is the Bear Clan.
Bears are a recurring subject in the work of Hoocąk (Ho-Chunk) artist Truman Lowe. This particular piece honors his mama bear, Mabel Davis Lowe, a member of the tribe’s Bear Clan, and her Hoocąk name, Sauninga. Mabel was known for her striking use of color in ribbon appliqué and for her ability to cut the graceful floral designs freehand. Following her passing, Lowe preserved her ribbonwork patterns and shared them with family members. Lowe honored his mother with a number of artworks, some are included in our upcoming retrospective “Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe."
In addition to drawings of bears, Lowe also made large sculptures. Visitors can encounter one of them on Level 3 at our Washington, DC museum ahead of the exhibition's opening on October 24, 2025. https://s.si.edu/4pNOxUl
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Truman Lowe (Hoocąk, 1944–2019), “Untitled (Sauninga),” n.d. Chalk pastel on paper, 11 x 14 in. National Museum of the American Indian 27/619
