Spring Break
Lillian Pitt: an artistic view
Renee Roman Nose
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Forum
Her art is a testimony to the strength and endurance of her culture, reflective of the stories she was told of the many strong indigenous women whose adventures have been passed on to her in the oral tradition of her people - the stories she has been told that she, in turn, has represented through her mask series, thus retelling the stories and preserving them for future generations to continue to enjoy. These stories are an enduring representation of a vital culture that has thrived for more than 12,000 years in the Pacific Northwest. Lillian Pitt is a Tribal member whose family ties are from the Warm Springs, the Wasco and the Yakama nations.
Perhaps Ms. Pitt's most famous work is that of her rendition of "Tsagaglalal: She Who Watches," her own portrayal of a petroglyph that graces the Columbia River to this day. According to Pitt, "'She Who Watches' has become a signature piece for my career, is a source of personal inspiration - as the original overlooked my great-grandmother's village, n'xluidix - and is a recurring image of significance for the middle Columbia River Chinookan peoples of which I am a descendant. She is a charismatic figure, as well as a heroine of antiquity. When I found out who I was and what she meant to my great-grandmother, it was a life-changing experience. It gave me a sense of power that no one could take away. Your choices can't be wrong if you really know who you are."
Pitt's commitment to her art is also a commitment to her culture and all people of the world. "I use the ancient stories of my ancestors as a basis for the imagery I create," Pitt said. "By doing this, I maintain the memory of an ancient culture and keep the beliefs of my people alive. We have forgotten how to live in harmony with nature. Accessing this vast reservoir of traditional information and translating it into contemporary terms jogs our memories and provides points of reference to achieving balance within ourselves, our community and the world."
Perhaps Ms. Pitt's most famous work is that of her rendition of "Tsagaglalal: She Who Watches," her own portrayal of a petroglyph that graces the Columbia River to this day. According to Pitt, "'She Who Watches' has become a signature piece for my career, is a source of personal inspiration - as the original overlooked my great-grandmother's village, n'xluidix - and is a recurring image of significance for the middle Columbia River Chinookan peoples of which I am a descendant. She is a charismatic figure, as well as a heroine of antiquity. When I found out who I was and what she meant to my great-grandmother, it was a life-changing experience. It gave me a sense of power that no one could take away. Your choices can't be wrong if you really know who you are."
Pitt's commitment to her art is also a commitment to her culture and all people of the world. "I use the ancient stories of my ancestors as a basis for the imagery I create," Pitt said. "By doing this, I maintain the memory of an ancient culture and keep the beliefs of my people alive. We have forgotten how to live in harmony with nature. Accessing this vast reservoir of traditional information and translating it into contemporary terms jogs our memories and provides points of reference to achieving balance within ourselves, our community and the world."
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