Post Lodge - Murals by Wo Peen

Item Information

Title:
Post Lodge - Murals by Wo Peen
Description:
This picture is of Post Lodge, a room in Springfield College’s Pueblo of the Seven Fires. The paintings on the walls were created by Native American Artist Wo Peen, also known as Luis Gonzalez, who was famous for his traditional murals and paintings. He painted these murals in Post Lodge around the year 1932. The mural on the right depicts a ceremonial dancer or Sun-Buffalo Dancer and is highly symbolic. The man is wearing a buffalo skin head-dress with snowflakes made of the down from the eagle. The eagle tail feathers and macaw feathers symbolize the sun's rays. The face, body, and legs of the dancer are painted black and the hands white, indicative of night and day. The stripe on the skirt is painted green, the color of vegetation, or of that of a serpent, symbolic of water. The dancer is performing a dance which is a ceremonial prayer for rain, in which the sound produced is like rain falling. The mural on the left, partially blocked by the pole, is of the Sacred Flying Water Serpent. There is a moon in the circle made by the serpent's body. Wind passes over its back and under its tail. Lightening comes from the serpent's mouth, indicating power. Cloud and mountain symbols are also depicted.
Date:
[1932?–1960?]
Format:
Photographs
Location:
Springfield College Archives and Special Collections
Collection (local):
College Archives Digital Collections
Series:
Pueblo of the Seven Fires Records
Subjects:
Springfield College
Springfield College--Buildings
Pueblo of the Seven Fires
East Campus
Peen, Wo
Gonzales, Luis (Wo Peen)
Springfield (Mass.)
Murals
Pueblos
Rocking chairs
Lodges
Places:
Massachusetts > Hampden (county) > Springfield
Link to Item:
https://cdm16122.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15370coll2/id/7040
Terms of Use:
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
Springfield College
Notes:
The Pueblo of the Seven Fires is the name of the main building located on Springfield College’s East Campus, which consists of about 80 acres of forested land adjacent to Wilbraham Road that support the college’s recreation and camping programs as well as providing experiential learning opportunities for the community. The building, the only authentic southwestern pueblo structure east of the Mississippi, was dedicated in 1932 and originally provided meeting space, activity areas, storage, and living accommodations for the East Campus caretaker. The 4,4000 square-foot structure follows a classic southwestern design, with walls 24” thick at the base, tapering to 16” at the top. The floors are made of brick and the original roof was constructed of oak planks lying beneath a tarred layer overlaid with two or more inches of sand and soil to provide both insulation and fire protection from potential forest fires. The interior of the Pueblo features seven fire places, including a large fireplace donated by 4-H clubs. The seven fires refer to the seven fires of youth: self-expression, universality, ruggedness, regret/humility, truth, comradeship and beauty. The Pueblo also has a large central hall, or “Crane Lodge,” an east wing called “Reed Lodge,” the west wing called “Post Lodge,” and the Robinson room. A full kitchen is on the first floor, and offices and residential space is on the second floor. Wo peen, also known as Luis Gonzalez, was a famous Native American Artist known for his traditional murals and paintings. Edgar M. Robinson and Ernest Seton Thompson, both considered founders of the Boy Scouts, participated in the design of the building. In 1950, the Pueblo was officially designated the E.M. Robinson Pueblo of the Seven Fires, in honor of Edgar Monroe Robinson. Today the Pueblo is still used as it was originally designed, as a student learning facility hosting classes, camp groups and acting as a special function hall.
Identifier:
rg137-01-01-10-004