Eagle Wing Stretches

Eagle Wing Stretches

By Visionary Artist Robert Parkes

Inspired by the book Black Elk Speaks by John G. Neihardt

The Inspiration and the Journey

The story of the Grandmother and the Grandfather evolved over many years. It began when I was about fourteen after I received the book Black Elk Speaks. Because I learned through "image reading," my progress through the book was very slow. However, this turned out to be a great advantage: at the end of every chapter, I would receive a distinct feeling and a vivid image.

Though I could not fully describe the feeling at the time, the image was always of the Grandmother and Grandfather sitting by a campfire. It looked like a snapshot set against the dark background of the night. As I continued reading over the next few years, these feelings grew stronger, and the images provided more and more detail.

The journey of Christ and the Eagle began later, when I discovered a Moody Blues album featuring the song "Om." Listening to it perfectly captured my emotions at the time. The song overwhelmed me, bringing forth an image of ancient India. From there, the visions of the Grandmother and Grandfather evolved into a dream that began telling me the story of Thunderheart—a deeply personal story that took many years to complete.

Creating the Painting

It was during this visionary period that I felt a profound need to create Eagle Wings Outstretched. However, I first needed time to learn how to paint.

After many adventures, I moved to Maine and took a job as a caretaker for a 40-acre complex and farmhouse. By this point, my painting skills were well-developed, and I had created many preliminary sketches for the piece. I built a unique seven-sided stretcher for a canvas that was nearly 40 inches in diameter. I finally finished the painting around 1981.

Symbolism and Themes

The imagery in the painting is heavily influenced by the spiritual themes found in Black Elk Speaks. Here is a breakdown of the core symbolism:

• The Eagle as a Sacred Symbol: The eagle is a powerful symbol in Lakota spirituality, representing courage, strength, and a direct connection to the Great Spirit. Black Elk's visions often feature eagles, signifying his spiritual power and connection to the sacred.
• Eagle Wing Stretches as Freedom and Power: The image of outstretched wings evokes a sense of freedom, soaring above limitations, and reaching great heights. This resonates with Black Elk's visions, where he travels to spiritual realms and witnesses the vastness of the cosmos.
• The Vision of the Hoop: In one of his visions, Black Elk sees the sacred hoop of the nation, symbolizing the unity and interconnectedness of all things. The eagle, with its ability to soar above the earth and see great distances, acts as a guardian of this hoop, ensuring balance and harmony.
• The Ghost Dance: The Ghost Dance movement, which Black Elk participated in, sought to restore the Lakota way of life and bring back the buffalo. The eagle, as a symbol of power and connection to the spirit world, was seen as a source of hope and inspiration during a time of profound cultural crisis.
• Thunder Beings: In his second vision, Black Elk encounters the Thunder Beings—powerful forces of nature often associated with eagles. They grant him special powers to help his people.
• The Horse Spirit: Black Elk is visited by a bay horse spirit, which can be interpreted as an eagle in horse form, symbolizing physical power intertwined with spiritual guidance.