Native artist's work on display at JRB

One feels a little surrounded — in a good way — by the sculptures of Paul Moore in a show at JRB Art at The Elms, 2810 N Walker Ave.

Available by appointment, the bronzes by the noted Oklahoma artist and Muscogee (Creek) Nation member are on exhibit through July.

A herd of bison, driven off a cliff, seem to defy gravity as they fall to their deaths, in Moore's “The Buffalo Jump” or “Pishkin.”

In a gallery note, he said the practice, used as early as 12,000 years ago, was necessary for survival, before the introduction of the horse.

A seated, bizarrely masked “Warrior Mudhead,” whose job was to control Hopi and Zuni clowns, stares back at us, in a second bronze.

A gesture with one hand, captures our attention, as well as that of birds and animals, as they provide “The Inspiration of The Story Teller” in a third work.

Moore points out in a descriptive text that the statue was inspired by “Te Ata and the folklore and mythology of Native American People.”

Combining the heroic with the grotesque is his gray-hued bronze of a Sioux brave wrestling a cadaverous “Ghost Warrior” for battle prowess.

Seated holding a spear, “The Outlier” looks into the distance, bent on personal revenge, not tribal warfare, in another striking work.

By contrast, a much less heroic looking warrior slumps to the ground, near an animal skull, completely exhausted by his “Offering to The Sun.”

Powerful portraits include bronzes of a determined drummer and his wife, “Before The Dance,” and of “The Elder,” whose wrinkles and stoic face tell his story.

Nationally known, Moore's work is in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery and in the collection of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

His show is highly recommended during it run at JRB.

Call 528-6336 or go to www. jrbgallery.com for information or to make an appointment to see the exhibit.