Post by Blu on Nov 22, 2004 18:36:37 GMT -5
Jon Thunder: One of the main reasons that I stay away from the term Indian artist or Indian anything is because of the reputation that follows that term, in these modern days. There are so many people out there who are embracing the Indian culture without the exact representation. So if I wish to embrace the term Indian artist then I believe that what actually I’m telling the people who are in contact with me for the first time is that my art, me as a person, everything that I do, is of an Indian nature. Now my Indian-ism is not for sale. It is a way of my life. It is the way of my people. What I do with it, as far as the artistic ability that I have, is a personal choice that I have made. I paint what I know. I know the people of my culture. I know our history. So it’s very easy for me to paint this. But also I’m a commissioned painter. I will paint Davy Crockett. I will paint the subjects that I feel I have to paint through my life experiences.
The Indian artist in me covers only the Indian subjects. The artist in me covers art, and I am an artist. To view me as an Indian artist would be like if I were to look at you and my approach to you was that you were not a journalist but a white journalist, but I’m sure you’re interested in all topics other than just what Anglos want to read.
Once we embrace a label we must follow that label. If you go back to the ways of my ancestors, we did not call ourselves Indians. This is a term - a label that was laid upon us. We called ourselves, regardless of what the nations, the tribes were calling themselves - once it is translated, it translates into the common man. People. Human beings.
I am a human being. Period.
To read the whole interview visit;
www.mysterious-america.net/interviewwithapa.html
The Indian artist in me covers only the Indian subjects. The artist in me covers art, and I am an artist. To view me as an Indian artist would be like if I were to look at you and my approach to you was that you were not a journalist but a white journalist, but I’m sure you’re interested in all topics other than just what Anglos want to read.
Once we embrace a label we must follow that label. If you go back to the ways of my ancestors, we did not call ourselves Indians. This is a term - a label that was laid upon us. We called ourselves, regardless of what the nations, the tribes were calling themselves - once it is translated, it translates into the common man. People. Human beings.
I am a human being. Period.
To read the whole interview visit;
www.mysterious-america.net/interviewwithapa.html