‘iT’S NOT A LOGO’: Proud of creation, disappointed by its fate, ‘Fighting Sioux’ artist says symbolism always intended to ‘bridge all the gaps’
August 23, 2011 at 12:11 pm in Grand Forks Herald
Bennett Brien remains proud of his art, which often has been called one of the most attractive logos – or symbols – in American sports. Former President Charles Kupchella says Brien’s “Fighting Sioux” is classic, beautiful and respectful. Even one Fighting Sioux nickname critic says the image itself has never been the issue. “It’s how the image is being used,” Lucy Ganje says. Continue Reading
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So will your culture a shame really that you see a great team and logo that way. to bad your tribe will slowly fade as well
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This just goes to show that sarcasm is lost on most people. Next time I’ll be sure to use the /sarc tag.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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The picture of UND’s president and Mr. Shaft reminds me of the milk ads, only this caption would say “Got Spine?”
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That’s a stupid and moronic comment, come on!!!! There is little ground swell to have the Fighting Sioux removed but a small minority of hand wringing elitist liberals complained loud, long and hard enough and got the logo cancelled.
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I loved what Mr. Brien had to say. Very well said I thought. It’s too bad the majority of the commenter’s were not very respectful or insightful on a story that was a very good read.
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Then you have some serious deep rooted issues if a picture like that disturbs you.
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Ganje says:
“The image itself is not the issue,” she said. “It’s how the image is being used. It was not commissioned as a piece of art but as a sports logo, so the meaning we draw from it is always based on the context in which it’s used.”
So…is graffiti art? I would bet you believe it is. What is the context of graffiti?
Along with her other credentials, Ganje must have a PhD in Twisted Logic.
Bennett Brien—artist
Lucy Ganje——-professor
Those who can…do…those who can’t…teach.
Never more true.
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Lets look at this campaign to remove the name and LOGO from the campus for what it truly is; a way of erasing the Sioux from the books. Say what you will but in a society where people only remember things that are in their daily lives, how long will it be until the Sioux name just draws blank stares from people when its mentioned? If i were a member of the Sioux nation i would be much more offended that people wanted to take my heritage and hide it from public view. Wake up people, this is not what it seems, this is not about a hostile and abusive logo, which i would love for someone to define Hostile and abusive to me, but this is about removing a large part of a cultures identity from the public view. Dont believe me? lets talk in 10 to 15 years after every logo and picture has been removed, after the name hasnt been uttered in 10 – 15 years and see how the Sioux feel about it then when their culture has been dismissed as archaic and insignificant. Ask members of the Chickahominy tribe how it feels to be forgotten. People can be as negative about UND as they want but you can not dismiss the efforts made by the University to celebrate the Sioux culture; if you believe you have an argument i would love to hear it. Annual celebrations, drum and dance ceremonies at graduation events, etc…. Where will these celebrations be held when UND decides that they dont want to be “Hostile and Abusive” so they cancel all of the events and just treat the Sioux as North Dakota citizens rather than celebrating their history/culture? On the reservation? Believe it or not, this initiative by the NCAA is less about caring for the Sioux and more about eliminating them from the forefront of society. Let the name change begin, and in 15 years remember that the Sioux made the decision to allow a group of white men in suits at the NCAA to push them into insignificance.
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Well said. While I have been a staunch supporter of the nickname and logo, it will be nice to have this behind us. I also feel that the NCAA is making a very large mistake by forcing the retirement of the logo, and believe as you do that the end result will be the essential loss of understanding of the Sioux culture beyond the reservations. What people fail to realize is how easily the name and logo can be changed into a teaching moment about the traditions and heritage of the Sioux people when individuals ask about the logo.
I’ve read where Standing Rock councilmen have commented on the high unemployment and health problems that occur on the reservation. I fail to see the correlation between the nickname, logo, and these problems. Once the nickname and logo are taken away, the social problems that are occurring will still remain, and the interest in the culture generated by the symbolism will be gone forever.
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While reading this article, I took a long hard look at the Sioux symbol, logo, whatever you want to call it – which I hadn’t done in a while. It really is such a beautiful symbol and it is so much more meaningful than any other in college sports, in my opinion. Although I am glad the controversy is finally coming to an end, I will never understand how anyone – white, native, or otherwise – could possibly feel that being represented by that classy, authentic, original and unique piece of art is demeaning, hostile and abusive. It’s beautiful, Mr. Brien, and I will cherish it forever.
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After reading the article I remembered the days when my friend Ben Brien created and gave his logo creation to UND.
That is why I thought that it would best if all supporters of Ben’s beautiful artwork that when the “Powers That Be” have their self serving logo retirement party…..Don’t Attend!!!!!.
Attending such an event would be like attending the funeral of a life long friend and listening to those whose actions murdered your best friend giving the eulogy at the front of the funeral service. These people have no honor and are nothing but self serving/back patting bureaucrats posing as though they have done something wonderful. Don’t let them.
It puts me in mind of the f documentaries about the mafia when after some of them murdered an enemy, all the mobsters brought huge floral arrangements to the funeral. They had long lines of mobsters that paid there respects just to have a huge public presence of phony saddness/grieving while plotting their next move on another rival.
Just DON’T ATTEND and let them have their retirement party where only their voices full of pretty flowing words are heard. Let them stand alone and they may then realize just how alone they truely are in this whole thing. These people who stalked, hunted, and killed the wonderful and insiteful Bennet Brien creation DON”T deserve any recognition at all for their dealings in this matter.
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I am a graduate of UND, and am saddened that the logo will be taken away and replaced by what? If the NCAA will not allow this logo to be used in the future, then all rights for this logo should be given back to Mr. Brien. It is a work of art and he shold be allowed to benefit from what he created. Has anyone considered that? It is said by some that the logo is hostile and abusive. What I find hostile and abusive in NCAA sports logos is the chopping motion that the fans of the school out east use that continue to be able to use their Native American logo. A final point: I doubt that Native American students attending UND will find their individual situations improved because the Sioux logo has been removed. Racism will continue to thrive while bigots walk the earth. Removing this logo will not remove bigots/racists, unfortunately.
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North Dakota must not be the joke that you think it is.
The aviation department expands almost every year and is training pilots from all over the world. The state itself is one of the few states operating in the black without massive debt like Minnesota among others.
UND continues to break attendence records. The only place that North Dakota is a laughing stock is in the confines of your mind and other like thinking people. The financial standing, expanded acedemics, and increased attendence at UND makes your comment not just disegenuous but borders on being a lie.
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North Dakota is opperarting in the black for only one reason. A fluke of nature millions of years ago. But to listen to Republicans they put the oil in the ground.
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Maybe they didn’t put the oil in the ground, but unlike the debtocrats, they are smart enough to take it out and use it, and create jobs, and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
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So why does wise use of resources and good fiscal management constitute being “A Joke” in your eyes.
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Ganje said: The image itself is not the issue,” she said. “It’s how the image is being used. It was not commissioned as a piece of art but as a sports logo, so the meaning we draw from it is always based on the context in which it’s used.
Too bad Ganje and those of her ilk weren’t able to ALSO recognize the meaning Brien and the many, many ethical, conscientious proponents of maintaining the “Fighting Sioux” logo gave to the image. They do not recognize they have attacked all the ‘good’ the image brought forth.
I attended very, very few sports events in the many, many years I attended UND, and during the few that I was an employee there, but I have and viewed/experienced only high regard for the “Fighting Sioux” image. I’m sorry, Mr. Brien, that your voice, your vision was not respected by those who evidently can’t see that abusive behavior will not be suppressed by changing images.
Someday the “Fighting Sioux” image will be welcomed once again, only to be revered for its ability to overcome the one dimensional thinking that tried to put it to rest.
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I will say one thing for this nickname debate.
If it wasn’t for that, AreaVoices would be mighty dead.
Nothing but unimportant political things posted. Worthless stuff about taxes, unemployment, jobs going overseas, food and gas prices rising.
You know, things that don’t affect any of us at all…
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I’m so glad that my last Son to attend UND is a Senior (and we are still enjoying the wonderful logo) because if and when they retire the logo, I would never even consider paying good money for a child to go to a spineless, P.C.’d University.
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