Chief Keokuk meets the Chief of Keokuk
Keokuk, IA Chief of Police Thomas L. Crew and wife Cindy add Keokuk, Sac and Fox Chief to their collection
As an artist, few things are as satisfying as seeing my work placed in its new owner’s home. I thought you too would enjoy this story.
A message from Keokuk
This fall, I received a message from Cindy Crew, wife of Keokuk, Iowa Chief of Police Thomas L. Crew. The couple had been looking online for images of their town’s namesake–Chief Keokuk of the Sac and Fox tribe. They found my article on Keokuk from my 2010 one-man show, Portaits of Honor and contacted me about creating a print of this painting for their home.
I had been wanting to add another piece to my giclee collection to round out the number of images offered to an even 20. When I got Cindy’s request, I knew that Keokuk, Sac and Fox Chief was the image to add.
Cindy tells me she and her husband were unfamiliar with my work prior to finding the article. “We had seen the original Catlin image many times,” Cindy says. “My husband and the fire chief in our town both have a print of that painting in their offices. But when we saw the realism of the James Ayers painting, we knew we wanted to have one for our home.”
Keokuk, Sac and Fox Chief by James Ayers
Keokuk is the focal point
“This print is the first thing you see when you walk into our house,” says Cindy. “I am part Cherokee, and we have many Native American artifacts and art pieces in our home. We hung the print of Keokuk so that it’s prominently displayed.”
Keokuk, Iowa Chief of Police Thomas L. Crew
The Crews are also having a replica red roach hair adornment made (like the one in the print) to display next to the image. “Our community has a craftswoman who makes porcupine roaches for pow-wows and she is making one for us exactly like Keokuk’s.”
I’d like to thank the Crew family for their enthusiasm for Keokuk, Sac and Fox Chief and willingness to share this story with my online friends.
Are you interested in adding a print of Keokuk, Sac and Fox Chief to your home? Please see my giclee page for more details: Keokuk giclee by James Ayers
