Amos Kingsley, from the series Strong Unrelenting Spirits
One Book One Northwestern, 2024–25
This artwork was selected in response to themes in Northwestern’s community-wide reading of The Night Watchman (2020) by Louise Erdrich.
In recounting his visit to a Sioux (Dakota, Lakota, or Nakota) medicine man as a child, Tom Jones witnessed ancestors appear as "small orbs of light" floating in the room. This experience inspired Jones’s series Strong Unrelenting Spirits, in which the artist affixes beads and sequins to his photographs of Ho-Chunk individuals in order "to give a symbolic representation of our ancestors." Jones surrounds his portrait of Amos Kingsley with beadwork arranged in a Ho-Chunk floral design, visually signifying the pride Jones and Kingsley share in their tribal heritage. The portrait highlights another source of pride for Kingsley, namely his service in the US Navy, signaled by the hat, shirt, and medallion he chose to wear for the photograph.
The way Jones documents Kingsley’s tribal heritage alongside his military service prompts reflection on the multifaceted, interwoven experiences in The Night Watchman—in particular those of the titular character Thomas Wazhashk. The beadwork surrounding Kingsley parallels encounters that Thomas has with what he calls "star beings." While watching his daughter Sharlo participate in a parade, Thomas perceives her to be "one of the star beings, given, for her time on earth, human shape and form." Such encounters with "star beings" motivate Thomas to persist in the fight he organizes against the Congressional resolution that would terminate his tribe’s recognition and the services they receive.
We are happy to provide a shareable pdf booklet and downloadable images for teaching and engagement. You can schedule a class visit to discuss these works in person in our study center by contacting Essi Rönkkö at essi.ronkko@northwestern.edu.
