Mr. Sid Armstrong was born and raised in Oklahoma. He received his culture from the Ponca and Otoe Missouria tribes of Oklahoma. Mr. Armstrong is a member of the Ponca tribe. His father was Otoe Missouria (Buffalo Clan) and his mother is Ponca tribal elder, of the Eagle Clan. His mother is also the granddaughter of Horse Chief Eagle and the great grand daughter of White Eagle.

My Grandmother was of the Owl clan, and a Medicine woman. She helped heal people from everywhere. I always think about her when I paint Owls. Her influence on me was one of good, and kindness to everyone, and everything in Nature. I am very mindful of what God has given to us. The four seasons, the four directions, the four elements fire, water, air, and earth. How everything has a place in this world, and must be respected.

I am a father of four wonderful children. Three sons, and a daughter. My wife of five years comes from Germany, and is the single most influence of my art. She is my best critic, and she keeps me on my toes. I pretty much needed that!

I am currently in charge of the Ponca display at the Standing Bear museum here in Ponca City, Okla. Besides from my paintings, I have incorporated some of my relatives to assist me in the display.  One of my Uncles Louis Headman, and I'm sure you haven't heard of him is a very talented artist in his own right.  He builds and plays the Native flute.  He is very gifted.  He doesn't publicize his works.  He only does it for his own gratification.  One of my sisters is helping me with our tribes ribbon work, for clothing.  All of this is in our tribes display at the museum. “Click” to visit the Standing Bear Park Museum
 

I have relatives that are in tribal politics.  One of my Ponca brothers is chairman of the tribe.  As well as the Otoe Missouria I have a Otoe brother that is the chairman for the Otoe.  With relatives as our leaders it is a prime time for me to pursue one of my goals.  I want to include the Osage, Pawnee, Tonkawa, Kaw, Ponca and Otoe tribes for this goal.  I want to start a Art contest at the Standing bear museum for all the young kids who may want to pursue art.  Where it be writing, composing music, sculpturing, or fine art.  Standing Bear has agreed with me that if all the six local tribes buy off on this idea, they will provide the arena for this event, as well as ribbons, and prize monies.   If this will save one life in changing a persons direction, and keep them away from drugs and alcohol then it will be worth it.  
 

I have been approached by the Daughters of the American Revolution a local chapter here in Ponca City to come speak to their group on Native American art for their November meeting.  They asked I bring some prints for their group.  

So as of today this is what I am currently working on.  I have paintings still in the works as well.  I have a good friend Richard Stepp I met at an art contest at the Cherokee Heritage days celebration.  He was playing his flute when I met him.  I recognized his music before I saw him.  Kinda cool.  Anyway he is nominated for a grammy for best album.  The name of his album is "Legends and Dreams."

RV: You had mentioned your NDN name as Wash-cauh Mah-thay. Could you please share the interpretation for us?  

Sid: Wash-cauh Mah-thay means strong walk, or walks with effort. Pertaining to life's walk on the Red Road.

RV: What has transpired in your life since we last spoke?

Sid: I will be conducting the sweat lodge. We will have Buffalo clan members come from all over for this annual event. Then on Saturday there will be a one day dance. Afternoon and early evening we will have a gourd dance, then the war dance will follow afterwards. My heen-tahdo (Indian Friend) is the chairman of the Otoe encampment that is having the dance. This is a benefit dance for our annual powwow we have every 3rd weekend in July at Red Rock, Okla. This past winter has been a rough one on our people. We have lost many, it has effected all the clans of our tribe, so we still have many still morning. Even through all the pain of our people I was still able to meet with the tribal council and present them with a painting of the 7 clans. I recently finished the Otoe rider on a horse. I entered it into the Ponca City art association contest in February, and received 2nd place ribbon on it. I was happy with the outcome, since I was competing with everyone in this contest. The City seems to have embraced me. Several months back I was asked to speak to the "Daughters of the American Revolution", at their monthly meeting, on Native American art.

RV: Could you please tell us more about the Ponca and Otoe culture?

Sid: There are seven clans among the Otoe Missouria. The Eagle, Owl, Pigeon, are the bird clans. Then you have the Bear, Buffalo, Elk, and Beaver are the animal clans. In the fall and winter time the Bear clan is in charge. Coming up this next weekend on the first day of spring the Buffalo takes charge through the spring and summer months.

RV: Do you prefer to create with water colors, pen and pencil or oils?

Sid: One of these days I think I would like to try to paint with oils. I never did! I still have all my watercolors, pens, pencils. I can sketch something then refine it, and then paint it. Today I use a wacom tablet and stylus pen. I paint digitally. I can look at my monitor and see everything as it transpires. My color palette can match precise to the color of what I am trying to capture. I honestly feel like there is nothing I can't do. I just use my imagination now. Can you paint sound? Maybe paint something that smells or tastes good? I have been working on a painting now for some time and will share it with you later once I get it to where I want it to be. My Mother said it is my best one yet. I haven't gotten to the point to where I think it is yet.

RV: I understand that you work at the Standing Bear Museum. That has to be a very cool job. Can you please tell us about some of the responsibilities you have at the museum?

Sid: As far as the Standing Bear museum goes, I only have the Ponca tribal display booth there. I have some of my art pieces as well as regalia. I don't work there, but the museum has agreed to hold the children's art contest there that would coincide with the Standing Bear powwow in September.

RV: What projects are you currently working on?

Sid: The latest painting I just finished that I shared with you is my first abstract. It is a character of the Otoe Missouria. A fearless warrior that portrays strength. One lady looked at it and said she could see my younger brother in it. I was honored by the compliment. All I know is I wasn't painting him. I have one already sold. I have prints available in 11x14 and 16x20 size prints with only 100 limited edition available. When you sent this email to me I was finishing up with some mat/frame work on one I am entering into the Cherokee Trail of Tears art show/sale which begins next month.

I would like to thank Sid again for his time and I look forward to seeing more of Sid’s creations in the coming years. Please visit Sid’s website at Red Earth Art’s and be sure to add Sid to your friends list on Facebook.

RV: Besides being an artist, what do you hold in high regards to living. I suppose my question is what are your philosophies and what is sacred to you?

Sid: In my up bringing, my father taught me that everything begins with a prayer and ends with one. So each day I try to have a prayer on the tip of my tongue to say Aho for another day. Then at bed time I try to say thank you for another day. This philosophy pertains to everything we do in life, regardless of how small or large each undertaking is. Where it be putting some tobacco on fire wood before starting a sacred fire, or maybe pouring out a little bit of water on the ground before you take a drink, just to give some back to Mother Earth first. Everything in life needs water, and to us water is very sacred and powerful. Of the 4 elements water is first, of Earth, fire, and air. Each New Moon we may use some tobacco to sacrifice on the ground with a prayer for another season.

Today especially is very significant to my people. This is the New Moon of spring. Our ancestors would take young men early teen agers, and pierce their left ear lobe. This would signify of becoming a warrior. Later this week on Friday we will have our annual Buffalo clan sweat lodge. This is like the changing of the guard. The Buffalo clan will be in charge now through the spring and summer. Mainly during our powwow. All the other clans will follow our lead now, so this is very significant to not just my family but all our people. It is time of hope and change. Better day ahead for all of us. This will be our prayer for all Indian people across our country.

RV: Who would you say your inspirations are? This can be an artist, friend, parent, etc...

Sid: When I was about 14 there were several artists around Red Rock, where I was raised. That were very talented in what they did. Some of these artists never had any desire to share with the outside world, they would keep their paintings hanging on their walls or put away in their closets. David Kaskaske is one artist that has his name out there today. He has become world renowned for his works. He has no gallery but will do a painting and sell it to a local pawn shop to earn his money. Some of these guys can do a painting in a day and sell it the next. There are those too that will do that and will take the money and buy a bottle of wine. I feel sorry for those that live that way. That is a waste of talent.

My Mother I think kept everything I ever painted. She became my first and best fan. She always encouraged me to paint. Then today my wife is my best fan and will not only encourage me, but will critique what I do. So not everything you see in my works will get shown because she may have changed my mind about how something may have looked. I will never say I am perfect in what I do. I have started more paintings and either thrown out or never finished. I think I am my own worst enemy. I strive for that certain look that I may be looking for, and will get frustrated if I don't find it. But every now and then I will hit it. Then the emotion I get from that is beyond expression. Total elation and a new found confidence. It is like fuel on the fire. Just keeps getting better and better. This what I try to hold on too.