Laughing Eagle Trading Post Shop
For over 25 years, inspired by his Cherokee heritage, Russ Kruse's passion for reproduction of Native American artifacts from numerous tribes has continued to grow. His channeled expertise in flint napping, carving, beadwork, hand-painted feathers, leather work, scrimshaw, and relief carving have allowed Russ to make these masterfully-crafted, unique art pieces. Through his carvings and artwork, he reflects the inner spirits of himself, "so they may see what I see". People all over the world have bought his art, and his life calling is to continue to share it with people of many cultures.
"My compulsion to create accurate, detailed, museum-quality depictions of the spirit of the art, all made by hand, manifests itself in the unique works below":
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Headdresses
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War Shirts
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Peace Pipes & Pipe Bags
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Knives & Beaded Sheaths
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Dance Sticks
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Shields
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War Clubs
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Painted Feathers
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And More.
Biography
Russ
was born in Orange, Texas, and was adopted by the Kruse family when he was three
years old. As a child, Russ was introduced to the Native American culture by his
uncle, who kept cases full of arrowheads that he'd found on his land and nearby.
This sparked Russ's interest in Native American culture and he soon began to
create bows and arrows. Seeing his interest in handcrafting objects, Russ's
adoptive father taught him how to work with wood. He then taught himself how to
carve animals out of pieces of Ash, Mesquite, Birch, and Maple trees. The more
he worked with his creations, the more he realized that the inspirations he used
to create these pieces of art were something more than just a hobby or a trade
he learned.
When he grew older and began to research the origins of his biological family, Russ discovered that he was descended from the Cherokee people. Finally having his suspicions proven right about the naturalness of his art, Russ then realized that creating this art was his heritage and his life's calling.
Russ has called the San Antonio, TX area A home base for most of his life, but a year ago began a journey of traveling the Southwest area of the U.S. in an RV with his wife, Jan, creating and selling his art.
He is also available for private showings, exhibitions, and demonstrations, and teaches flint-knapping and lazy stitch bead-working to children and adults.
