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David
Mann’s life focus has been his interest in the Native
American culture, horses, and art. As a child, the artist
collected any Remington and Russell prints he found along
with books illustrated by Will James, Paul Brown, and
Wesly Dennis.
Mann
knows his subjects well from studying the history and
culture of the Western Indian tribes. Born in Utah, the
artist lived among the Southwestern tribes during a
two-year mission in New Mexico and Arizona. During his
time with the San Carlos Apache, Navajo, and Pueblo
tribes, Mann absorbed Layers of meaning that give depth to
the human stories he tells. This unforgettable and
invaluable time spent with the Indians allowed the artist
to experience first-hand the stories, dignity, and culture
magic of their lives. Mann’s paintings are alive in rich
colors, remarkable illusion of day and moonlight, and
energetic or quiet compositions.
The
artist seeks to capture the personal moment of truth and
has the benefit of working with Indian and mountain men
who model for him. Mann looks deeply into his subjects,
envisioning the joys and sorrows that have contributed to
the strength of a culture. The artist’s paintings are
known for careful attention to detail including clothing,
saddles, jewelry, and the many other symbols and
accoutrements that are part of his subjects’ cultures.
The combination of heart and mind, and intellect and
spirit is told in the dignified presence of the Native
Americans featured in the historic settings in which the
artist paints them. Mann’s images portray the spirits of
the historic, as well as the contemporary, west, usually
depicting moments in time rather than historical events
when deeply rooted traditions provided spiritual and
physical sustenance for the Native Americans.
Mann’s
original paintings are highly collected. The artist
participates in several annual art exhibits around the
country; he has been the subject of numerous magazine
articles. |
