14" x 11"  on paper - matted to 20" x 16"

This is Jesse’s tribute to the American spirit and patriotism of the American Indian. It shows a Cherokee Eagle Dancer with an American flag as he would carry it during the opening of a pow-wow or ceremony. This image was used to represent Jesse’s work as the featured artist for the Prescott Indian Art Market at the Sharlot Hall Museum (Prescott, AZ in July, 2002.

14" x 11"  on paper - matted to 20" x 16"

Here is a young couple of the bear clan shown in a winter landscape scene. They are keeping warm with a bearskin blanket decorated with hearts and X’s and O’s for hugs and kisses .

14" x 11"  on paper - matted to 20" x 16"

Here two clan leaders are getting ready to sing their prayers in the fall ceremonial. Each wears the headdress of his family—the buffalo and the deer. In this song, the buffalo will lead the singing of his prayers. The deer will then join with his own singing of prayers—or second.

11" x 14"  on paper - matted to 16" x 20"

This is for all the Harley-Davidson riders. As a commission for an owner of a Road-King, this piece shows a rider decked out in his military blue jacket riding his “hog.”

16" x 16"  on paper - matted to 20" x 20"

“This was one of my first larger canvases—36x36. Since I grew up in the south, watermelons were a favorite food. This shows a young man, with his buffalo headdress on, “plugging” the first watermelon of the season. He’s going to make sure he gets the first bite!”

14" x 11"  on paper - matted to 20" x 16"

Cherokee are traditionally matrilineal and clans were determine by the mother of the child. This is homage to those beloved women who became leaders and teachers of the younger women who would keep the traditions and ceremonies going in future generations. The background represents the four directions and four seasons.

14" x 11"  on paper - matted to 20" x 16"

After his first visit to the Black Hills, South Dakota, Jesse painted his versions of the monuments he visited. It was 2 weeks before the Sturgis bike rally, so there were many motorcyclists visiting as well. Here he's placed a cyclist on an motorcycle in front of Mount Rushmore during an evening viewing when the moon was full and casting moving shadows on the presidential heads. A tribute to the'hundred year bloom' of wild flowers during the visit is shown at the bottom.

11" x 14"  on paper - matted to 16" x 20"

Two drummers in costume are singing songs of the night, either before or after the dance. One is dressed in the costume representing the coyote; the other is in that of the raccoon. Since these animals are nocturnal animals, it is appropriate for them to sing the night song that would honor these brothers of the night.

16" x 16"  on paper - matted to 20" x 20"

Romantic couples are often portrayed in Jesse’s work—being somewhat of a romantic himself. He also likes to use phrases that have multiple sources and meanings in producing and titling his work. This is Jesse’s own interpretation of 1) the old ballad “Fly with Me” which includes the line, “...we’ll dance among the stars...” and 2) the current TV show titled Dancing with the Stars. He thought the tango would be a good romantic dance for this couple in love truly ‘dancing among the stars.’

11" x 14"  on paper - matted to 20" x 16"

“Cherokee did have games they played that were something like our game of marbles. And when I was a child I played marbles and always carried them with me until I was about 10. I put these two ideas together showing the two animals considered the ‘tricksters” playing marbles. Because they can trick each other, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will win all the marbles!”

16" x 16"  on paper - matted to 20" x 20"

The bird clan of the Cherokee believe they have the son of the first eagle. It is preserved by being stuffed with sacred herbs and medicines. It is brought out only once a year for the highest holiday. Jesse shows the Shaman holding this sacred bird and beginning his singing for it and the people. He sings prayers of praise and thanksgiving to this precious bird for giving his life that their ceremonies might continue. The white marks across his face and chest show that he has been touched by the spirit of the eagle and is worthy of performing this ceremony. This is the second in a series of images about this ceremony. In the first piece, the women of the clan (also marked by the eagle) were bringing the sacred bird to the Shaman.

11" x 14"  on paper - matted to 16" x 20"

Jesse often portrays couples at different times of their romance. In some Pueblo cultures, the dragonfly is a symbol of love and commitment between couples. Here the couple, of any age, is honoring the dragonflies who have joined them in a celebration of their love.