Joan Blackwell

After retiring from a career of many years as a Department of Defense classified management analyst in northern Virginia, Joan C. Blackwell returned to her roots in Lumberton, NC. She completed a master’s in art teaching at the University of North Carolina in Pembroke, North Carolina, where she formerly earned her bachelor’s degree.  As a recognized Lumbee Tribe member, in the Lumbee Tribe community, she was featured often in newspapers, and on television. She has conducted art workshops for several National Art Education Association events across the United States and continues to offer art classes and events in her Lumbee community. Her work has been shown in numerous solo art gallery exhibitions, public collections, and international clients.

The Three Sisters Garden

Medium: Acrylic, clay form, glaze

47" x 36"

$2,500

Recently I was commissioned to create a Three Sisters Garden painting for a health agency in North Carolina, which would be used as a logo for t-shirts. After completing this logo, I created this large-scale painting showing what the Three Sisters Garden would look like in a whimsical environment. Native American conversations often center around the environment and the earth. They believe it is important to consider what will affect the next seven generations. These beliefs include the concept of the Three Sisters Garden of squash, corn, and beans. This turned out to be one of my favorite paintings and is currently on exhibit at the Museum of the Southeast American Indian, the University of North Carolina in Pembroke, NC, my alma mater. The composition shows the three sisters growing corn, beans, and squash in the same mound in the garden. The corn provides a ladder for the bean vine. They together give shade to the squash. The Native American stories of the Three Sisters vary from tribe to tribe. The sisters are facing a beautiful sunset with beautiful clay-formed hummingbirds and flowers adorning the background. A spiritual, mystical scene is captivated with breathtaking color schemes. Honoring our Lady ancestor farmers continues to feed us with nourishment while respecting those legends before us.

Pickup at Red Earth Art Gallery, 100 N Broadway, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.
Interested in having this item shipped? We can arrange packing and shipping for an additional cost. Please call 405-427-5228 or email info@redearth.org before purchase.