Evan’s vision expresses some of the many ways the buffalo was so strongly attached to his ancestors. The buffalo dancer represents the coming of the buffalo. The night before a buffalo hunt Lakota warriors performed a ceremonial dance and prayed that the hunt would be successful.
The shield was used for ceremony and for the warrior so he would be protected from the enemy. It has the buffalo medicine painted on it signifying the strength and prowess of the Tatanka. In the same sense, the Lakota people strongly believed it gave the warrior who carried the shield the same strength. The buffalo tracks represent moving forward in great numbers. The three horses represent the means in which the brave warriors hunted the buffalo for the people. Also included is a blue moon, symbol of a great feast. The buffalo skull is the spirit of the Tatanka as a great provider.
The eagle is a messenger from the two-legged to the Great Spirit known by the Lakota people as Wakan Takan. Eagles are forever flying above, watching over the Lakota people. This creature is featured in every piece of art Evans creates. Each picture on the buffalo intermixes with the next signifying a transformation like the sacred circle of life and the changing of the seasons in which everything is constantly growing. This technique gives his artwork a vision-like personality with a grand story to convey about his people; this is what he is striving for to keep my culture alive.
This buffalo is dedicated to Evan’s nephew Anthony Foote, may he rest in peace.
Born on the Rosebud Reservation, Evans Flammond is a self-taught artist. Evan’s vision of a Golden Eagle at age 7 and his uncle's encouragement empowered him to believe that he could bring his imagination to life and were the gateways to develop his creativity. From that point on, he was like a sponge, absorbing anything that dealt with art.
Today, Evans is an internationally recognized artist traveling around the world to share the story of his Culture and Beliefs. "I want all walks of life to share my work and get a strong understanding of its powerful significance– the reproduction pieces in particular. I want them to appreciate the way my ancestors so proudly adorned personal possessions with, and adopted the persona of, such entities as Bear, Wolf, Buffalo, and Horse," he asserts.
Evans has two sons, Edward and Evans, Jr. He experiences great joy in his heart at seeing his sons follow in similar footsteps to his.
