The University of Denver Library Archives took possession on November 20, 2017 of my 40 years of professional materials such as articles, books, publications, notes, doctoral research papers and notes, research raw data, correspondence, teaching manuals and syllabi, slides, exhibition records, workshops and lectures, and special projects. It was hard to turn over a new leaf and say goodbye to a wonderfully fulfilling career in regard to researching the nature of artist intelligence, which led to a Kellogg Post Doctoral Fellowship in Adult Learning Research.

What drove me to this work was years of thinking differently from others, starting as a child (much more spatial and wholistic in nature) and not having this ability to reason displayed on tests.…something I would have to learn. I could find the answer in my head without going through the linear thinking process. Yet, most testing dealt with the process and not necessarily the outcome or product. It was like a puzzle for me. A good example is when I had to take beginning and advanced statistics in my doctoral program. I was scared to death that I could not do it. Well, luckily I had one of the best teachers around, and he gave open book tests. However, these were what was called “power tests’ where the answer to the first question plugged into the second question and so on. So, if you missed the correct answer to the first question, you were toast. One had no time to look up anything because there were so many questions/problems on the test. You either knew it or did not. Everyone laughed at me when I came to the first test with three huge color-coded butcher papers showing how to jump from one concept to another and what the possibilities were for interaction, much like how my thinking process works. I spread the papers out on the floor in front of my desk, going way off alone. Needless to say, I got top grades in all of these statistic classes and loved math for the first time in my life. I began to see that I needed to use what I knew as my thinking style and convert my pictures into objective responses. My way was not an inferior manner of thinking, as I had been led to believe throughout my life. On the contrary, I thought with my hands as representative of the mental spatial process. This was an artist’s way of processing information.

I got my doctorate in 1987 from the University of Denver. The instruction in research methodology was superb. One of the most wonderful aspects about this program was that I was allowed to take classes at Stanford University in California to study with Dr. Elliot W. Eisner. He was the leading person in my field at the time. While at Stanford, I had the opportunity to explore its wonderful library of primary resources. I copied everything important to my research and spent hours reading the fantastic collection materials. Many of these out-of-print materials were referenced in my own work. This is what inspired me to leave my collection of primary materials to an archival collection for others to develop and grow from my experiences. To me this is what education is about, not just giving back what is being taught by a specific professor, but utilizing aspects of the learning process for one’s own unique approach.

Throughout the years I had the privilege of co-authoring, co-editing, and serving on committees and national organizations with some of the brightest and most prolific people in my field. They made me work harder to know my craft better in order to contribute. For that, I am grateful to have been their colleague. I loved teaching and knowing my students, as well. They challenged me to reach a higher level of knowledge and self awareness. I really loved what I did throughout the time I remained in my field of endeavor. One cannot ask for more than that in life.

It is with tremendous heartache that we report the death of Doubletrees Wild Victoria (4/10/1995 to 8/2/2017). In her lifetime, she had been an Equitation Proficiency Exam Horse for William Woods University of Missouri and was bred by Don Deardroff Stables in Oregon. She was fast and always willing. Her extended trot was to die for. She loved to drive, as well. At times, she was affectionate, especially towards David, her owner.

“Victoria” was humanely euthanized while at a training facility in Kentucky. She died of severe colitis with bacterial and toxin complications…parasitism. We wish we could have done more to extend her life and would love to have had her longer.

Victoria came to us in a very unique way. Sharon had a vivid dream one night about a horse….a mare. This horse was calling for help. It said, “Help me. I am all alone. Please help me. I am afraid and alone.” When Sharon got up the next morning, she put out feelers to horse people through out the US to look for a mare who may be in distress or need a home. A couple of weeks went by and people gave suggestions of different horses. Then one day, Sharon was standing in the office where we boarded our horses and a fax came through with a picture of a beautiful bay American Saddlebred mare. Sharon said, “That is her!” After agreeing to take her sight unseen, Sharon asked to see the pedigree if available. Low and behold she was the daughter of Charismatic, David’s Western Pleasure Champion. She was meant to come to us. That was 13 years ago. Several years later we acquired Doubletrees Victorious (Victor), Charismatic’s son and half brother to Victoria. Both offsprings were in need of TLC.

The photographs show David with Charismatic and Sharon with Victoria in 2004. The color photograph is of David with Victoria in April 2013

A rescued research dog named Barnie changed the course of my career and how I taught ethics in regard to research methods. See his chapter below. He lived to be 15 years old.

Barnie Chapter

During my professional career I have published many articles, monographs, book chapters, and edited books in regard to domain-specific knowledge in the visual arts and how to test such knowledge as a form of spatial intelligence. It is my pleasure to donate a portion of these publications to the University of Colorado for future researchers exploring American Indian issues in learning. Many of these publications are listed in the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) which is a digital library for research papers. ERIC is sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences of the United States Department of Education and is a wonderful resource for new and emerging ideas in the field of research. It is another avenue for disseminating research materials.

The reason why I chose the Center for Native American & Indigenous Studies (CNAIS) for part of this collection is because my heritage is part Santee-Yankton Sioux, and this background has affected my research and direction in life. I grew up picking prunes from the age of eight years old in the Napa Valley to pay for my first year of college, which allowed me to be the first in my family to graduate with an higher education. My father only had a fourth grade education. I grew up not knowing my heritage because of the political climate in the 1880’s which forced Native Peoples to hide their affiliations. Thus my true name “Greenleaf” was hidden for many years and the name “La Pierre” was taken through baptism. However, the influence on my life, research methods, and lecturing has just been made clear to me. My father and most of my family told stories to clarify and to illustrate a point. It seems that story telling was carried down to me and is how I have illustrated my work in general.

The following is a list of materials and publications donated on July 7, 2017.

1 – Native Peoples A to Z Encyclopedias of Indians of the Americas, 1st Edition copies, 8 volumes, 2000;

2 – First Edition Book Published by the National Art Education Association (NAEA), Research Methods and Methodologies for Art Education, 1997, Sharon D. La Pierre, Co-Editor;

3 – A Journal Copy of Multicultural and Cross-cultural Research in Art Education published by USSEA, Fall 2000, Volume 18, pages 145-150, A Photo Essay of Migrant Workers with Text by Sharon Greenleaf La Pierre;

4 – Monograph Publication Juried Paper, A Portrait Study – Expression Anchored by Tradition: A Young Native American Artist’s Struggle and Growth to be Creative (Melanie Yazzie), National Art Education Association (NAEA), 1994, Sharon D. La Pierre, Listed in ERIC #ED 368 648;

5 – Monograph Publication, Using the Arts As An Educational Model for High-Risk Individuals, University of Denver, 1990, Co-Edited by Sharon D. La Pierre, Listed in ERIC #ED 329 495;

6 – Monograph Publication by Kellogg Research Center, Montana State University, 1988, Spatial Reasoning and Adults, Sharon D. La Pierre, Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Adult Learning Research, Listed in ERIC #ED 298 252;

7 – Monograph Publication Juried Paper, Issues of Gender in Spatial Reasoning, 1993, National Art Education Association (NAEA), Sharon D. La Pierre, Listed in ERIC #ED 358 016;

8 – Monograph Publication, The evolving Theme of Teaching Multicultural Art Education (USSEA Sponsored), 2002, Co-Edited by Sharon Greenleaf La Pierre, Listed in ERIC #ED 468 629;

9 – Monograph Publication, Research Methods and Methodologies for Multicultural and Cross-Cultural Issues in Art Education (USSEA Sponsored), 2000, Co-Edited by Sharon D. La Pierre, Listed in ERIC #ED 438-224;

10 – Monograph Publication Juried Paper, The Professional Artist’s Thinking Style: An In-Depth Study, National Art Education Association (NAEA), 1992, Sharon D. La Pierre, Listed in ERIC #ED 349 219;

11 – Book Published by the University of British Columbia, Women Art Educators V: Conversations Across Time, page 50, 2003, A Small Act of Self-Healing, Sharon Greenleaf La Pierre;

12 – International Conversations Through Art, InSEA World Congress, 2002.

We think Suggy was born in 2010. She came to us when we picked her up in Kentucky where she had been found. She was very young, not fed well for a puppy, and appeared to have had injuries. X-rays since have shown some damage was done in the spine and pelvis, and it looks like she healed herself. She also had a heart condition. Suggy was small for her breed with fine features.

When we first saw her, we did not know she was a Boston Terrier because she was so malnourished, afraid, and grayish, crawling along the ground to greet us. We brought her back to Colorado and she became the love and joy of our lives. Whatever her injuries were when she was young, followed her into adulthood. Up until several months ago like the photo above, she was well and happy. Then, something took her brain. We loved her to the very end until it was time to let go, which was today December 24, 2016.

I never had a small dog before, and she went everywhere I went like a little shadow. She sat in my lap when I worked at the computer. She sat at my feet when I was eating dinner, and she was always in my arms when watching TV and of course on the bed. We were inseparable. Her need to be close to me grew on me. She was my buddy. I loved having her so close.

I want to take the opportunity to comment on life and how fragile it is. I go back to my roots as a child and look at life as inseparable from Good…only tangible to those who know its worth and practice making it real for themselves and others. That is what Suggy did. She filled the room with her presence. One could not resist to touch her.

Suggy is forever in our hearts and my beloved Apolo Peruvian Horse will greet her at the Rainbow Bridge! We have so much appreciated the chance to love and know this little dog for such a short time. Bye My Love!

William Wellisch
February 13, 1966

This is another chapter in my book about memorable individuals who have contributed to my life. William Wellisch was a dear friend who passed on November 19, 2015. It was a pleasure, Bill!!!!!!

Link to the below PDF File to read about his extraordinary experiences.

William Wellisch

We call Marijke “Mikey.” She is 19 years old and over 17 hands. Her white eyebrows are so unusual that when she is at a show people stop to pet and photograph her. She is one of the sweetest horses we own.

Marijke is pictured here with David Bruce at the 2015 Regional Friesian Horse Show at the Budweiser Center in Loveland, Colorado, where she won two Championships in Huntseat. Also this year, she won at the Denver Stock Show in Open Huntseat, making this one of her best show years ever. We are very proud of this special horse who loves to be loved and loves to “strut her stuff” in the arena.

Marijke has been trained for the past three years by Kelly Bell Performance Horses. Kelly is a well known huntseat competitor and trainer. Angelia Lease tacks Marijke and cares for her daily needs. Mikey loves Angela. They seem to have a special bond between them. Marijke has been a real blessing to all of us, and we know that we have made her experience much more enjoyable.

On July 30, 2015, Patuna went over the Rainbow Bridge and moved on. We rescued her 18 years ago from the streets, and at the time the vet thought she was 6-8 years old. So, we guess that she lived 24 years, 18 years with us. She was kind of a ferrel cat who did not like much touching. She got along with our many dogs (who came and went as she aged) and ran the house like an alfa mare.

Patuna was kind of a “junk” food cat. Our vets kept telling us to feed her more quality food. She would only eat cheap, canned food and tuna fish, which is how she got her name. Why would we feed her anything else when she lived such a long and healthy life? Just goes to show ya!!

She will be very missed. It has left a hole in our hearts for she was a constant in our household. We are glad we got to know this very special girl. She enriched our lives.