In June 1937 art students and instructors from Washington State College descended on Nespelem on the Colville Reservation.’ They painted portraits of Chief Kamiakin’s children and grandchildren, along with scenes of life among the Confederated Tribes. Images and captions from Indian Summers: Washington State College and the Nespelem Art Colony, 1937–41 by J.J. Creighton and published by Washington State University Press, 2000.
Anne Harder painted this semi-abstract watercolor during her first summer in Nespelem, 1937. (Anne Harder Wyatt Collection)
Nespelem Art Colony, 1938. Front row kneeling, left to right, Edward Haupt, Anne Harder, and Margaret Johnson. Back row, left to right, Art Hargrave, Zeldabeth Bertsch, Anita Erickson, Ruth Kelsey, Willie Andrews (Red Star), Vivian Kidwell, Maude Butler, Louise Berteldt, and Donald Dodge. (Anne Harder Wyatt Collection)
Cleveland Kamiakin, son of Chief Kamiakin of Palouse-Yakima heritage, posed for Worth Griffin wearing a full headdress and chest panel. (WSU Museum of Art)
Worth Griffin’s portrait of Lucy Kamiakin Owhi (Awhi), daughter of Chief Kamiakin. Born in 1863, she was Cleveland Kamiakin’s sister and later married Chief Awhi. Her daughter, Bertha Awhi, currently lives in Omak, Washington. (WSU Museum of Art)
Granddaughter of Chief Kamiakin, Bertha Awhi, at age eleven or twelve, was teased by artists for dozing off after sitting for up to eight hours during a portrait session. (Anne Harder Wyatt Collection/Hilda Hines)
An overhead view of students at work. Portrait painting was scheduled three days each week, totaling eight or more hours per day. (Anne Harder Wyatt Collection)
Worth D. Griffin painted scores of portraits of Inland Northwest pioneers, Indians, and government and business leaders for WSC. By most accounts, Griffin was the primary founder of the Nespelem Art Colony. (Photo Sharon Seegers)
Powwow at Nespelem by Ruth Kelsey (WSU Museum of Art)
