A Native American artist created beautiful, personalized ceramic sculptures for some of Hollywood's biggest stars in the 1990s as part of a tribute project by Rabbit Ears Productions. The children's entertainment company, known for teaching kids about legends, folklore, and fairy tales through animated short films, commissioned these unique artworks as gifts for the celebrities who lent their voices to the beloved stories.
Anahwake Nahtanaba, a Native American artist affiliated with the Caddo tribe, was selected in 1991 to create personalized Pueblo Storyteller sculptures for each participating actor. The impressive list of recipients included Robin Williams, Glenn Close, Sigourney Weaver, Denzel Washington, Danny Glover, and Meryl Streep. Each ceramic piece was carefully crafted to reflect the individual personality and contributions of its intended recipient.
The storyteller tradition holds deep significance in Native American culture, serving as a vital link to preserving family folklore and cultural heritage for thousands of years. As Nahtanaba explained, "Each has its own story to tell. The piece reflects the grandfather, the grandmother, the elder, and interplay with the children." She emphasized that specific elders traditionally take on groups of children when they're young and may guide them into young adulthood through these stories, which are always loaded with the principles and standards of the community and culture.
The artist created distinctly personalized pieces for each celebrity. For Sigourney Weaver, she crafted a special clown figure that Rabbit Ears had specifically requested. The sculpture destined for Meryl Streep was made "in a very traditional way," while Robin Williams received a particularly playful piece that was reminiscent of his work on the Rabbit Ears production "Yosemite Sam." Each sculpture incorporated the company's distinctive logo featuring one ear up and one ear down.
Rabbit Ears Productions played a significant role in 1990s children's entertainment, introducing young audiences to classic tales like "John Henry," "Goldilocks," and "Jack and the Beanstalk." The company's animated short films featured popular celebrities providing narration and character voices, bringing these timeless stories to a new generation of viewers.
The symbolism in Nahtanaba's artwork represented both traditional and contemporary elements, making it as much a part of the storyteller tradition as the stories themselves. These personalized sculptures included features that the artist didn't normally incorporate into her regular work, making each piece truly unique for its celebrity recipient.
This artistic collaboration highlighted the intersection of Native American cultural traditions with mainstream entertainment, demonstrating how Indigenous storytelling practices continue to influence and enrich contemporary media. The project took place during Native American Heritage Month, which is celebrated annually in November, adding additional cultural significance to the commissioned artworks.
