Agua Caliente gambling sculpture

Sculpture honors gaming historyThe ceremonial fire was lit. The coyote bones were passed. And the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla's bond with its past was forged in a granite sculpture to carry the tribe into the future.

The sculpture, depicting a four-man team with hands held high in the ancient game of peon, was unveiled at sunset Monday outside the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa.

The players are flanked by two cut-outs of hunters. They stand like guardians over the gamblers as they hedge their bets against the other team: The passersby.

"The peon players are challenging everyone going by in a gambling game," said artist Doug Hyde, whose work has won international acclaim.Comment:  For more on the subject, see The Facts About Indian Gaming.



Here are Doug Hyde's other sculptures for Agua Caliente. I didn't know he was the artist, but I've posted them before.