By Barbara Arnstein
The art of Carson Waterman, a distinguished painter, designer, draftsman and sculptor, reflects Haudenosaunee history and culture, and combines realism with abstract symbols. (The Haudenosaunee are also known as the Iroquois, or Six Nations). An exhibit of his work, at the Burchfield Penney Art Center in Buffalo until June 1st, is entitled “Art Saved My Life”. Here is how that happened:
on May 18th in the Reilly Center Arena, Waterman will
be awarded an honorary doctorate. Dr. Jeff Gingerich, the university’s
president, said “Carson Waterman is one of the most
signifi cant artists Western New York has ever produced.”
“When I was in Vietnam, cutting bamboo to clear a field, I offered a drink to the man guarding me”, he said. “As I was handing my canteen to him, he was killed by a sniper. I was very lucky and I wasn’t hit. After that I did a sketch of a lieutenant and he showed it to the division commander, who said, ‘I want this man working for me’. I was then transferred to the Public Information office, to do illustrations and sketches for stories. Years later, I met my former platoon leader, who told me that I missed a very bad battle and probably would’ve been killed if I hadn’t been reassigned”.
Since his return from Vietnam, he has used his art to help ensure his culture’s survival. Since he is a member of the Snipe clan of the Seneca Nation, he helped establish the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum on the Seneca Nation’s Allegany Territory. He served there as an exhibit designer, illustrator and artist. (In 2018, the museum relocated to the Onohsagwe:de’ Cultural Center.) His current exhibit at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center, at Buffalo State University, features eight paintings honoring Haudenosaunee Clan Mothers of the Seneca Nation. “I did large paintings, each 5′ high by 7′ long”, he said, “because larger works demand visual attention”.
From 1988 to 2003, he sold his art through a gallery in Salamanca. One of his paintings is on display at the New York State Museum’s Cultural Education Center in Albany, NY. Other places his work can be seen include the Delevan-Canisius subway station and Erie Basin Marina in Buffalo; the Seneca Allegany Resort and Casino; and Allegheny River and Chautauqua Lake rest areas, community centers, nursing homes and fire halls. About his subway station artwork, which is 4′ high and 20′ long, he commented, “I did the mosaic tile-cutting myself, and devised my own method”.
“An Evening with Carson Waterman”, an event at which he will talk about the stories behind his work and the messages it conveys about his culture, will be presented by St. Bonaventure University, at 5pm on Wednesday, April 2nd. The presentation will be in the Rigas Theater of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Images of Waterman’s work will be projected on a screen as he speaks. He will be interviewed by Caleb Abrams, a multimedia artist and Associate Producer of the 2017 Seneca documentary, “Lake of Betrayal: The Story of Kinzua Dam”. Admission to the event is free and open to all, but seats must be reserved in advance, through ticketor.com/quickarts. The doors will open at 4:30pm. A recording of the interview will be used in an immersive art exhibit featuring Waterman’s work at the Quick Center in the Fall.
At St. Bonaventure University’s 165th Commencement Exercises, on May 18th in the Reilly Center Arena, he will be awarded an honorary doctorate. Dr. Jeff Gingerich, the university’s president, said “Carson Waterman is one of the most significant artists Western New York has ever produced.”