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The paintings were the pieces that coincide the most with the original proposal of the project--which was to create murals to be on display. However, as the project became more about educating viewers on specific issues within Indigenous communities within North America, the paintings started to take a more direct composition. With six in total, these pieces encompass specific events and stylistic choices to create insightful paintings.
The first two paintings, titled Missing and Murdered, focus on the First Nations of Canada and the “No More Stolen Sisters” campaign for indigenous women. Since 1944, there have been reports of violence against women within Canada--the number of which have significantly increased within the past ten years. Both of these pieces drew inspiration from missing posters, which for some are an everyday occurrence.
The next painting, titled S vs.C, uses iconography from Stanford to challenge the history of the mascot. Out of all the paintings, this one was the most challenging with both the historic significance, as well as personal conflict with the imagery. The use of Native American mascots is a loaded topic for many Native Americans because of the stereotypes it perpetuates, Stanford not being an exception. I wanted to challenge the common assumptions and cultural insensitivity that many possess regarding the topic, as well as uncover the history of the mascot on campus for others to know.
The three large pieces deal with activism within America, each representing important moments on both a large and local scale, though I chose for this one to remain untitled since it is for the Native American Community Center on campus. I wanted these paintings to mimic the tone of the three artist books in that they present facts and significant events while also celebrating mixed cultures.
These paintings offered me a challenge in pushing my abilities as an artist to develop and produce large pieces that deal on specific issues. Each one uses different techniques that help emphasize every component and create seamless pieces. During the development of this series, I was able to understand more historic contexts that go into political art. It also allowed me to think of more ways to expand the drawings that were to be created.
Missing
2016
Oil on Canvas