Keokuk

TSPR's Rich Egger reports.

The latest piece is called the Keokuk Leaders Mural.

It features Annie Wittenmeyer, Chief Keokuk, Charlotta Pyles, and Supreme Court Justice Samuel Miller, all of whom helped others who faced life or death circumstances, according to Wall Dogs' Martha Neff.

She's a retired teacher who taught art for 34 years.

Neff says Keokuk Wall Dogs allows her to remain engaged in the community.

Clearly impressed by the way she outfitted herself for the portrait, the painter, George Catlin, worked painstakingly to capture every detail.

To remember this work, Catlin titled it simply, Wife of Keokuk.

Although everything she is wearing communicates her status, access to luxury European trade items, and her wealth evidenced by the time-consuming pieces of sock material culture like beadwork, silversmithing, and ribbon work, Catlin reduces her value to being the wife of a notable sock leader in the 19th century, someone worth remembering by her connection to the man who likely put her up for the portrait.

Catlin later documented in his notes, quote, "'This woman was the favorite one, I think, of seven whom Keokuk had living with him, and although she was the oldest of the lot, she seemed to be the favorite one on this occasion, the only one that could be painted, on account, I believe, of her being the mother of his favorite son.

Her dress, which was of civilized stuffs, was fashioned and ornamented by herself,' and was truly a most splendid affair, the upper part of it being almost literally covered with silver brooches." Currently in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, these notes have often previously been taken as fact without considering Catlin's own biases.

Never mind any issue of a language barrier, as Keokuk was likely Catlin's translator on the occasion, nor the description of her dress as quote civilized stuffs as if to single her out among her people as someone who would fit in with the dominant society.

Catlin even qualifies his own statements with I think or I believe as if leaving room for interpretation to what he took away versus the potential reality.

Although he characterizes her regalia as truly a most splendid affair and names the silver brooches on her blouse, he did not use her name when the painting was all said and done.