Rabbit Knows Gun
Crow Billings, MT
Exhibit Year: 2014-2015
About the Artist
Rabbit Knows Gun is a long time Montana artist and a member of the Crow Tribe. He was born in 1948 in Montana and has lived many different lives in the military, in the Crow Tribe, and as an inspirational and spiritual artist. His gallery, the Knows Gun Gallery in Billings, features Rabbit’s work, as well as that of his sons, Joe and Allen Knows Gun.
Rabbit is known in the art community as the “visionary artist of the poor.” His colorful paintings capture themes of traditional Crow culture, American patriotism, his Catholic spirituality and the sprit of Montana’s natural landscape.
“Explore Big Sky”, May 2012
Artist Statement
I love Montana because it is the most beautiful place in the world. Some people say it’s the last frontier. I see it as more of a pristine environment that’s conducive to art. A lot of Montana artists are great artists; I see it everywhere I go.
All historians, artists, love Montana. Montana means ‘land of many mountains’. Some of my favorite inspiration comes from driving from Billings to Yellowstone National Park. I’ve painted the Crazies, Beartooths… all the mountain ranges here.
I’ve practiced a lot of different mediums like drawing, pencils and pens. I participated in a quick draw in Miles City recently, where I was one of 26 artists. In the past I’ve painted on buckskin hide. “Prayer lodges on the bank of the Big Horn River” is being shown in Billings right now.
My style is reflective of patriotism, and is family oriented and inspirational. A strong theme in my life is the ‘kinship of creation’ concept—it talks to me and continues to be a driving force for my work, giving it an inspirational quality which portrays the joy, humility and awe which I believe is important to the reason I am an artist. This concept also shows that all of life is dependent on each other and all life forms are sacred. A lot of people don’t understand that.