Over thirty years ago, Ben Nighthorse Campbell and I had a joint exhibit in Fort Collins, Colorado.  The show was a play on our similar last names and was called The Art of Goodnight and Nighthorse.  This opportunity launched a lifetime friendship with the entire Campbell family.  Two years ago, Ben’s daughter, Shanan Campbell realized the lifelong dream of owning her own gallery.  Sorrell Sky Gallery was an immediate success, opening with an impressive roster of nationally recognized artists on the historic Main Street of Durango, Colorado.

In early 2002, Shanan and Ben’s wife, Linda, had the idea of a sculpture of Ben and his beloved parade horse, Scamp, both in full Northern Cheyenne dress.   The sculpture would accompany Ben’s own art, a retrospective collection of the award winning jewelry he has crafted since childhood.  Ben’s jewelry along with the sculpture will be one of the inaugural exhibits at the new Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D. C.

Spring of 2002 Ben flew home to Ignacio, Colorado hand carrying his 72 eagle feather war bonnet.  Each feather was awarded to Ben as a “Coup” during his years on the United States Olympic Judo Team. He spent his 70th birthday allowing me to take detailed measurements and photograph him from every conceivable angle.  Scamp had died a few years back, so a similar horse was brought to the ranch to fill in as a surrogate model.  Hank was decked out in Scamp’s Northern Cheyenne bridle, breast collar, saddle, and flowing blanket.  I took extensive digital video as Ben trotted Hank around. 

The only opportunity I didn’t have, was to see Ben ride in his war bonnet.  Hank would have nothing to do with the flying feathers.  Linda gave me the historical footage of Ben and Scamp from both the Clinton Inaugural parade in 1993 and from the Rose Bowl parade when Ben was the Grand Marshal.  I had this footage digitized as well.

After hours of studying the video, I selected a position where Ben was leaning back and looking slightly to his right with the spear partially raised in his right hand.  Scamp was trotting with his neck arched and was also looking to the right.  His left foreleg was slightly raised.  I then captured still frames from the video of every conceivable angle of Hank and Ben when Hank was in the identical position.  From this information, I completed a 10” high clay model for the Campbell family’s comments.  An unexpected compositional element came into play by using the video.  The fringe on both Ben’s clothes and Scamp’s blanket and breastplate were moving in a clockwise pattern.  This direction, the rotation of the earth, is very important to the spiritual beliefs of Native Americans. 

One year later, Ben modeled for me again as I finalized his facial features.  At the close of the modeling session, Ben pointed out the dark pattern on one of the two feathers fastened beneath the spearhead. He told me that the elders say the owner of the feathers can see a picture in them that tells of their future.  Ben always saw a warrior.  When I looked at it, I was amazed to not only see the warrior, but Scamp, the spear slightly raised at an angle across Ben’s chest, and the war bonnet draping over Scamp’s left hip.  The pattern showed the exact composition of the sculpture!

The first casting of American Warrior was previewed on July 24, 2004 in Durango, Colorado at Shanan Campbell’s Sorrell Sky Gallery.  This great preview in Ben’s hometown included the retrospective of his award winning jewelry.  The exhibition will be on view at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian from September 21, 2004 to April 4, 2005.  It will then travel nationally before returning to Durango and the Center of Southwest Studies.