George Eklund's Stone Art

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GEORGE EKLUND'S STONE ART
MODERN ART
1 PAGE
COPYRIGHT FEBRUARY 28, 2006 PETER A. BOSTROM

SIDE-NOTCHED AND DALTON POINTS ATTACHED TO NODULES
BY GEORGE EKLUND

Abstract image of George Eklund art.

abstract
GEORGE EKLUND
A MODERN ART FLINTKNAPPER

This article illustrates several examples of George Eklund's "nodular art forms." They illustrate another way today's flintknappers are able to shape stone by percussion and pressure flaking. The unfinished points appear to be emerging from the stone like an unfinished statue.

    "He (George Eklund) is renowned as the "fastest" knapper at Fort Osage (knap-in), doing massive percussion on large pieces, but he is also capable of fine pressure work".---2004, John C. Whittaker, "American Flintknappers," p. 76.
    "For awhile he (George Eklund) made points only partly knapped from a large flake, still attached as if growing out of the stone".---2004, John C. Whittaker, "American Flintknappers," p. 76.
     "His work shows a wide range of talent and creativity".---2005, "Modern Lithic Artists Journal," Vol. 1, p. 29.

GEORGE EKLUND'S
STONE ART

George Eklund is a commercial knapper from Grove Oklahoma. He started flintknapping when he was a teenager and has been breaking rocks for 40 years now. One of the things he has become famous for is his ability to finish points very quickly. John Whittaker writes; "He is renowned as the "fastest" knapper at Fort Osage (a famous knap-in site)."

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR A LARGER IMAGE
NODULAR ART FORM BY GEORGE EKLUND
DONNIE McKINNIS COLLECTION

This large side-notched point is emerging from a chert nodule that was collected by George Eklund, near Jefferson City, Missouri. It represents a very good example of this type of "nodular art."

George Eklund is also famous for his use of copper billets (hammer used for striking off percussion flakes). In fact he is credited as the first, or one of the first, to have introduced copper striking tools for flintknapping. He is believed to be one of the first to have invented the copper billet.

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR A LARGER IMAGE
ART PIECE BY GEORGE EKLUND

This well made side-notched point is emerging from a chert flake. This piece measures 5 1/2 inches (14 cm) tall and it represents a good example of George Eklund's art forms in stone.

One of George Eklund's signature points are his nodular art pieces that he makes from nodules and large chert flakes. Various types of points appear to be growing or emerging from the stone. John Whittaker writes: "still attached as if growing out of the stone."

A GEORGE EKLUND NODULAR ART PIECE
DONNIE McKINNIS COLLECTION

These two Dalton points seem to be growing out of a small chert nodule. It represents another of George Eklund's unique art.

One other art form that George Eklund has made are his "as found" frames. These rustic frames have soil, grass and sticks for a background along with a nicely knapped point laying on top. The scene gives the viewer the appearance of a new surface find.

ART PIECE BY GEORGE EKLUND

This large unfinished Cahokia point is still attached to a particularly colorful piece of Burlington chert. Several small flakes have been glued around the bottom. This is the smallest of the four pieces illustrated in this article. It measures 2 1/2 inches (6.3 cm) tall and 4 1/4 inches (10.7 cm) wide.

As more and more flintknappers experiment with basic flintknapping techniques we can expect to see more new and unique examples of lithic art. George Eklund's nodular art represents one of these new styles. One thing is for sure, prehistoric knappers were not making nodular art forms like the ones illustrated here, at least none that we know of.

"REFERENCES"

2004, Whittaker, John C., "American Flintknappers," George Eklund, Commercial Knapper, pp. 76-77.
2005, "Modern Lithic Artists Journal, Vol. 1, Artist, George Eklund, p. 29.
Personal communications with Donnie McKinnis.

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