Lumbee Indian artist René Locklear White spent plenty of time in Washington D.C, with her 22-year career in the Air Force, now as a retired Lieutenant Colonel she wears boots for humanity bringing recognition to Native American Indians’ contributions to Virginia and beyond.

Recently, the 52-year-old Clarke County Va. resident carved and painted a dried gourd for the Executive Mansion holiday tree in Virginia’s state capital.
​
The governor’s official residence worked with the Virginia Association of Counties and Virginia Municipal League to collect local artisan-made, handcrafted ornaments from Virginia’s localities using the theme, “Home for the Holidays.” The deadline to submit ornaments was Nov. 1.

Virginia’s Clarke County officials searched for an artisan who could fashion an image suitable to represent their county. 

They chose René who is a military veteran, Lumbee Native American Indian and nature artist. She describes her mission as “cultural rescue” where she volunteers as president of Sanctuary on the Trail™ a non-profit Native American Indian church that helps leaders and brings recognition to contributions of indigenous to reduce suffering.

Her ornament is an oval-shaped dried gourd 3” x 5 ½.” She ink-dyed, carved, burned and painted local plants and wild life on to the gourd to honor Clarke County’s historical motto, “Our Land is Our Legacy.”
​
Clarke County is a planned open space community rich with forest cover, wetlands, unspoiled countryside, wild uncultivated areas plus locally grown foods and wines located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountain complete with Appalachian Trail and Shenandoah River.

A main feature on the ornament is a local phenomenon in Clarke County, the colors of autumn; depicted by fall leaves circling the gourd.

Blues and greens blend around the leaves to symbolize the state’s scenic Shenandoah River that flows through Clarke County like an oasis in the valley. Under the floating leaves are two small Sun Fish (also called Pumpkinseed Fish or Perch), added to represent fish indigenous people caught hundreds and hundreds of years ago in Clarke County using fishing weirs or ancient stone fish traps which are still existent here today. 
​
René said gourds are nature’s canvas. She prefers to work outside and all her work is done free hand with no pencil marks or stencils and a lot of fun power tools.

“When I begin to work on a gourd I listen to the Spirit within me to guide me and then I watch nature. Amazing things simply happen. For example, after I painted ‘red’ lady bugs, within a few minutes I was surrounded by ‘yellow’ lady bugs (also called Squash Beetles). So I added a yellow lady bug.”
​
René said when she finished painting the butterflies on top she began burning a bee on the steam to represent the dramatic die-off of local bees. But, as she was listening to music with Native American eagle-bone flute on her deck, she heard a piercing shrill above and looked up to see two bald eagles flying over her head. So, on top of the gourd in the center she burned a majestic eagle flying over Clarke County. Clarke is ink dyed various greens in the background behind the eagle. 

On the bottom, a carved hole carries a twinkle light inserted in a recycled K-cup illuminates through carved holes. Like stars over the mountain river valley these lights also represent “Shenandoah” which from Native American Indian legion means “daughter of the stars.” Lit in the dark these carved facets resemble the Blue Ridge Mountain that runs along Clarke County’s border.

For this county, this ornament is more than a luminary gourd or artificial light source.

According to Len Capelli Clarke County director of tourism, “This luminary gourd represents Clarke County as a place that inspires and influences, especially in the realm of art and farming.”
​
“Clarke County is the Gateway to the Shenandoah Valley for Metropolitan Washington DC and Northern Virginia,” he added talking about Clarke County where he also lives and works. “Clarke County offers artists like René natural spaces to create and call home.” 

On top of the gourd a fishing-lore swivel suspends and spins the ornament for hanging on the Governor’s tree.
​
The gourd is signed and numbered with a certificate of authenticity.

Virginia Lovers’ Gourd Society (VLGS) Treasurer Angela Mohr donated this raw gourd to René for this project. René wishes to thank Angela and the VLGS president Janice Kiehl for being her gourd mentors and friends. 

FOR MORE INFO 

Mansion Tours. The Capitol Holiday Tree ornaments are available for viewing during the open house. For dates and tour times visit the Executive Mansion’s web site at www.executivemansion.virginia.gov.

About the Artist.  To learn more about this artist or her cultural rescue project visit www.SanctuaryontheTrail.org or email her at [email protected].

Growing Gourds. For gourd growing tips and events visit the Virginia Lovers’ Gourd Society web site at www.vlgs.org.
​
About Clarke County. Clarke County has become an oasis for the Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia traveler. We are just 60 miles west of D.C., 12 miles from Hollywood Casino and Race Track and 16 miles from historic Harpers Ferry. 

René’s personal goals are to be a VLGS life member, earn a Virginia fine art fellowship, create a gourd worthy of display by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and farm and grow her own gourd varieties.

René became a VLGS member in 2013 after entering her first gourd into the local Clarke County Fair. She received a blue ribbon and the VLGS Gail Smith Memorial award, in memory of deceased gourd artist Gail Smith a devoted VLGS member and active Clarke County resident. VLGS is Virginia’s official Delta chapter of the American Gourd Society.

Now, René’s mission of “cultural rescue” spans three counties Clarke, Loudoun and Frederick.
She said, “There are no lines on the ground that separate our counties no more than there are lines that separate us in humanity.”

René’s vision is to change common misconceptions about Native Americans and raise awareness concerning Native American Indian culture, especially among students and teachers.

According to Indian Country Today Media Network, “a staggering 87 percent of references to American Indians in all 50 states’ academic standards portray them in a pre-1900 context.” That means students are graduating from high school without even basic knowledge of contemporary Native challenges or culture. 

In Clarke County René leads a biennial (every two years) Native American Indian harvest festival called The Gathering. More than 5,000 people attended The Gathering in 2015. René along with a close-knit team of volunteers are planning for The Gathering 2017 to be twice as big. The Gathering is an educational celebration of agri-Culture. René also teaches art to (Rose Hill) senior living center residents.

Recently, in Loudoun County René painted a wine barrel called “Listen,” that highlights sights and sounds Indians gave Loudoun County, that raised $600 for Purcellville. She and her husband Chris also helped teach children at the Village Montessori School at Bluemont how to build an Indian Village, attended by more than 5,000 people during the Bluemont Fair.

In Frederick County René leads Native American Indian activities during Winchester’s spring Kidz Fest. Last year, more than 800 children stopped at her non-profit booth to ask and Indian a question, learn an Indian dance or hear a Native American Indian story.

GOURDS

Thanks to counties like Clarke and modern seed-savers, we can continue to cultivate a variety of gourds.  

Gourds like this ornament, pumpkins and squash are members of an enormously diverse family of over 700 species called “Cucurbita.” Gourds are squash and vice versa. Squash are divided up into two categories: tender summer squash and hard-skinned winter squash.

Hard shell gourds like this one can last many life times.
​
Archaeological sites date gourds as early as 13,000 B.C. People around the globe used gourds for storage and carrying, for mixing bowls, pottery and dippers.
Gourds are still prevalent in Native American Indian culture today as rattles and drums in ceremonies and dance. In fact, one sacred group of Native American Indian dancers is called the “Gourd Dancers.” The Navajo modern-day squash blossom necklace originates from squash blossoms as they begin to open.

VIRGINIA INDIANS

Before contact, there were millions of Native American Indians living in present day United States. They were divided into more than 1,000 different tribes or kinship groups. Here in Northern Virginia they left us local words like: Sycolin Creek, Hunger Run, Conoy Island, Seneca Falls, Rappahannock River, Catoctin Mountain River, Massanutten and Shenandoah, as well as many artifacts and sites scattered across Clarke County.
​
Like René and Chris, there are many Native Americans Indian individuals living in Virginia from various groups across the North America. However, today there are only 11 Native American Indian tribes that call Virginia home: Cheroenhaka Nottoway, Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Mattaponi, Monacan Indian Nation, Nasemond, Nottoway of Virginia, Pamunkey, Patawomeck, Rappahannock, and Upper Mattaponi. Just last year (2015), the U.S. government finally granted federal recognition to Virginia’s first Tribe: Pocahontas’ tribe, the Pamunkey. Virginia has two state-recognized Indian reservations the Mattaponi Reservation on the Mattaponi River which is on the opposite side of King William County from the Pumunkey Reservation on the Pamunkey River.

Gourd #15 is fondly called "Na'vi" for the indigenous tribe of Na'vi from a favorite movie called, "Avatar." Aritst: René White (Feather) president of the Native American Church of Virginia.

Medium & Materials. Naturally dried gourds, carved, engraved and enhanced using water-based inks and white feathers.

Exhibition Oct. 24-26. This piece is on exhibit at the Art in the Foothills 2014 show and sale in Bluemont Virginia Friday-Sunday, Oct. 24-26. Sales from this gourd will help wounded warriors, fund youth scholarships and help preserve sacred lands.

Authentic Native American Art. I certify that the item listed here meets the “Authentic Indian Arts and Crafts” and “Indian Product” criteria and is labeled appropriately as authentic in accordance 36 CFR 51, Authentic Native Handicrafts.

Gourds #13 and #14 are called, "Small Rainbow Trout." These are the 5th and 6th fish in Fish Series by René White (Feather) president of the Native American Church of Virginia.

Medium & Materials. Naturally dried gourds, carved, engraved and enhanced using water-based inks: pine-tree green, chartreuse, apple, turquoise, pink and blazing blue; heat set and sprayed using gallery conservation varnish; and accented with silver wire and turkey feathers.

Exhibition Oct. 24-26. These fish are on exhibit at the Art in the Foothills 2014 show and sale in Bluemont Virginia Friday-Sunday, Oct. 24-26. Sales from these gourds will help wounded warriors, fund youth scholarships and help preserve sacred lands.

Authentic Native American Art. I certify that the item listed here meets the “Authentic Indian Arts and Crafts” and “Indian Product” criteria and is labeled appropriately as authentic in accordance 36 CFR 51, Authentic Native Handicrafts.

     To help raise money for albino children, gourd #12 is named Leucism /ˈljuːsɪzəm/ for its white feathers and white specks. Leuc- in Latin means "white."
     Leucism is a condition in animals characterized by reduced pigmentation during development. Unlike albinism, leucism is caused by a reduction in all types of pigment.
     Leucistic animals have normally colored eyes. This gourd has blue eyes.
     Animals with lighter plumage may be robbed of protective camouflage and more vulnerable to predators.

Children In Uganda Need Our Help
     Likewise, children who are born with albinism in Uganda and Tanzania are vulnerable to predators. They need our help.
     A percentage of the sale of this gourd will go to help Humanity Healing saving albino children around the world; the remaining percentage goes towards helping wounded warriors and sacred land preservation.

Accented with Albino Peacock Feathers.  The medium and materials include: naturally dried gourd, carved and enhanced using water-based inks and highlighted using acrylic gold

and silver; heat set and sprayed using gallery conservation varnish; and accented with white Albino peacock feathers. Most of the gourd color is its natural color.

Exhibition Oct. 24-26. This piece is being exhibited by the Artist at the Art in the Foothills 2014 show and sale in Bluemont Virginia Friday - Sunday, Oct. 24-26.

Authentic Native American Art. I certify that the item listed here meets the “Authentic Indian Arts and Crafts” and “Indian Product” criteria and is labeled appropriately as authentic in accordance 36 CFR 51, Authentic Native Handicrafts.

BLUEMONT, VA -- Children’s Art Needed for the local 45th Annual Bluemont Fair Sept. 20-21!  The Children's Art Show theme is “Bald Eagles of Bluemont.” You do not have to be from Bluemont to enter.

Age Range:                  Preschool – 8th grade

Media:                          Pastels, Watercolors, Colored Pens or Pencils, Construction Paper

Paper Size:                   Size:  11” x 14”

Quantity:                      One per student ~ print your name on the bottom right-hand corner of your art

The children’s artwork will be proudly displayed on the first floor of the Bluemont Community Center.  Artwork will be accepted now until September 19th 2014.  All art should represent this year’s theme.  Please send the artwork to:

Bluemont Fair Children’s Art
P.O. Box 217
Bluemont, VA 20135
Attn:  Amanda Dukinfield

Please note:  Artwork to be picked up on Sunday, Sept. 21st after the fair between 4 – 6 pm.  Please visit the fair site at www.BluemontFair.org for updates.  If unable to pick up artwork, please provide a prepaid, self-addressed envelope or mailer.

Face Paining - From ancient times, it has been used for hunting, religious reasons, and military reasons (such as camouflage and to indicate membership in a military unit). Recent archaeological research shows that it is a reasonable assumption that humanity has painted faces and bodies since the very beginning.

Source:  Wikipedia

Art Shows at Historic Mills & Buildings
    While shows like this take place across the nation, few take advantage of them. This year, for the first time members of the Native American Church of Virginia participated in the non-profit Burwell-Morgan Mill "Art at the Mill" exhibit held May-June, and encourages others to next year.
     Chris (Comeswithclouds) White church CEO and  René White (Feather) church president both participated in the show targeting historical preservation and art education. Chris submitted a traditional Native American drum and natural stone relief. René submitted several dried gourd designs including this fish set.
     A portion of the sales goes to preserve the historical mill and to an annual scholarship given to a Clarke County student majoring in the arts.
    "428 pieces of art in this show sold," said Laura Christiansen, CCHA Director.
     Each year, the Burwell-Morgan Mill in the quaint village of Millwood, Virginia, becomes an extraordinary art gallery. Art at the Mill has become one of the premier art shows in the mid-Atlantic region, attracting artists and buyers from more than a dozen states.
      In a letter, speaking to René, Chris and the other artists who participated, Laura said, "Congratulations and thank you very much for your participation, excellent work, and support of the Art at the Mill. We owe our success to you!"
     Those interested in participating next year, entries for the 2015 are mailed in January and downloadable from the Art at the Mill web site.

Art Internships & Grants Available Now
     René said she benefited from an art internship in college and recommends high school and college under-grad and graduate students check out these resources for internships and grants:

• National Gallery of Art
  
• Internship Match
• Federal Government
• National Endowment for the Humanities
• Archaeology, Classics, and History of Art

     For an entire summer 30 years ago, René earned an art internship through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She stippled fish and other marine life for aquarium exhibits at the Maritime Museum in Beaufort, N.C.
     Stippling is dotting and creates a pattern using varying degrees of solid or shaped dots. Stippling is also a natural pattern found on Virginia’s fresh water rainbow trout, along with it natural scales, array of colors and rosy band.

About these Fish Gourds.
     These are naturally dried gourds, burned, carved then enhanced using water-based inks: pine-tree green, chartreuse, apple, turquoise, pink and blazing blue; heat set and sprayed using gallery conservation varnish; and accented with fishing line and buzzard feathers.
     These are most likely siphon or bottle neck gourds. However, to René they can only be fish gourds.
     "From the moment I laid eyes on this particular gourd shape, now all I can see is fish," she said."I am not a fisherman, but I just love watching them and their colors, shapes and textures."
     The other two gourd fish on this string represent food, she said. Trout feed on aquatic and terrestrial life. One gourd contains a lady bug, bee, moth and butterfly, but the other gourd contains words.
     "We, like the trout, feed on aquatic and terrestrial life as human food. Yet, 'The Word' sustains our souls," she added.
      Closeup photos show the words carved and burned into the gourd.

Like the Fish, We are all Related.
    Chris, her husband gave René the title, “Fish of a kind school with one mind” for this set of fish gourds. It is similar to “Birds of a feather flock together.”
     When you see a school of fish, they will turn immediately with ever threat," Chris said. "Flocks of birds do it too. What is it? Instinct? Inner knowing? Trusting your gut?"
     "As fish and birds are similar, we are similar," Chris said. "Some think, 'we are all different.' Some think, 'no one thinks like I do,' that, 'someone has to be right, and you must be wrong.' But, we are all related."
     We have much to learn from each other and the animal kingdom; as nature intended.
     As you walk, fly or swim, may you always be in balance with self and others. As you flow in life, may you flow with a sense of purpose that cannot be thwarted by external negative forces. And as you are, my you always be reminded to listen to the words of the still voice within you.

Tax Deductible.
Proceeds for purchasing Chris and René's art are tax deductible and helps fund Art in Nature ® classes René  teaches at her non-profit, faith-based church and helps preserve and protect a sacred Paleo-Indian grounds they found on their property.

Bluemont, VA – Native American amateur photographer René White (Feather) is seeking votes for her Eastern Box Turtle photo to help draw attention to Indigenous Peoples’ contributions and Native American heritage. It is part of a nationwide search for the best photos featuring close-up shots of the details that make up the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). The photo contest, “Zoom in to the Appalachian Trail” runs June 4 – July 13 and is sponsored by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s (ATC),  
Why a Turtle?
     René said she picked a turtle photo to feature the A.T. because the turtle is one of the oldest symbols for the Earth in Native American teachings and has significant relevance to Native American heritage. René is 100% Native American from the Lumbee Tribe and president of the Native American Church of Virginia located at the Sanctuary on the Trail™. Her church is bringing recognition to the Native People of the Americas for their contributions past, present and future. 
The Turtle and Indigenous Culture
     By participating in the contest René hopes to draw attention to Indigenous People and “Mother Earth.” She said when her art students ask her, “Why do Indians say Mother Earth?” she explains how the turtle personifies “Mother Earth,” from which we all originated.
     “It’s a common spiritual concept that I think simply gets lost in language and in a sea of opinion. Biblical prophets wrote that we were born from dirt and when we die we return to dust,” René explained. “The turtle, like everything and everyone has a beautiful story with much to teach us.”
"It is not about me winning," she said.
     About the competition, René said it is not about her winning, it is about each person’s free choice to vote and say something with their vote.
Why Vote?
     “If a person votes for my photo, to me they could be saying, ‘I honor Mother Earth. I am mindful of the four directions and the seasons. I am mindful of giving back to the Earth as she has given to us,” René said. “Or they could just vote because they love turtles,” she laughed. “All I know is I feel Creator God leading me to create something good by telling stories, taking pictures and helping people.”
Much to Learn from Turtles
     René said she has learned a lot from watching and studying turtles and nature.
     “Like the turtle that buries its eggs, I use to burry my thoughts and my talents,” she said. “Spending more time in the sun and away from the military has helped me hatch new ideas and bring them to light. Maybe the turtle chose me? We have much to learn from animals. Seeing the turtle helps me reconnect. I want to walk relaxed and firmly with the power stance of the turtle.”
About the Photograher
     René is a retired military veteran and member of her local VFW. She is an avid volunteer in her community helping veterans, artists and senior citizens. During all seasons and climates, René has taken hundreds of photos of her outdoor sanctuary for Native American Church of Virginia Facebook albums. Last year, Cherokee English-Dictionary Author Brian Wilkes published six of René’s photos in his book, “Escape From The Darkroom!: Old-School Principles Applied to Modern Digital Photography.”
    

More About the Photographer and Her Husband
     One of her favorite projects is teaching Art in Nature™ outdoor classes by combining art, Native American heritage and spirituality. She enjoys enhancing dried gourds when she has time and is Vice President of the Virginia Lovers’ Gourd Society.
     She enjoys storytelling and recently published a story in the local Middleburg Eccentric about how her husband helps animals. Her husband Confrere Chris (Comeswithclouds) White is the Commander of the Commandery of Virginia with the Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, a non-profit non-government organization (NGO).
     René and her husband have spent five years preserving, protecting and restoring a Paleo-Indian which runs between the A.T. at Shenandoah River and the famous Bears Den rock formation.
What will you do if you win?
     If she wins, René plans to help tell a more complete story of Indigenous People at www.SanctuaryonthTrail.org past, present and future. Her last job in the military was spokesperson for the Secretary of Defense.

About the Contest. 
     The ATC photo contest asks participants to recognize that the A.T. is not only a footpath, but is also home to a vast array of wildlife and vegetation, scenery, unique people and special Trail communities. Contestants submit a photograph of a favorite feature along the Trail. Photos may include people, places, scenery or more.
     The top three photographers will each win a one-year membership to the ATC and will be featured in A.T. Journeys, the official magazine of the ATC. The grand prize winner will also win a custom ATC-themed hammock, courtesy of ENO™.
     Photo submissions will be accepted through Tuesday, June 3, and can be uploaded via the ATC’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ATHike. The public will then vote for their favorite photos through Sunday, July 13. Winners will be announced the week of July 14.

About the Native American Church of Virginia. Click Here.