Welcome
In the past, when I approached a canvas, I had no preconceived idea on subject matter, color, or composition. I had no conceptual agenda. I was content on the idea of art existing for it’s own sake. Many of my pieces were completely non-objective. They had no apparent Native imagery. I have been pressed many times during my non-objective endeavor to make a correlation between my heritage and my art. I was adamant about not stereo-typing my work. I would respond that Native art doesn’t have to visually represent Native people or traditions to be considered Native.
I’ve always felt that there is a rhythm or pulse that exists in native people and our art, a drumbeat that powers our decisions and action. My resistance to recognizable imagery was a direct result of that inner-drumbeat, that defiance, that resiliency which is at the core of all Native people. However, with time, I have begun to merge into subject matter that mirrors the aforementioned Native “pulse” which allows Native art to stand or exist for it’s own sake. The imagery is simple, doesn’t require a caption, and is understood. I fought this resolve for years; this simple, ideal composition. I realize now that this struggle I have endured, creating a simple existence for my art, bears a direct correlation to the struggle Native peoples have endured trying to preserve our once simple, ideal existence.