Where are you from and whos your favorite celebrity with plastic surgery side effects?
New Mexico... and probably Shauna Sand...
What would you consider to be contemporary native art nowadays?
The stuff I see my friends making...
Do you think a lof of non-native artists today are 'biting' native styles in art ( i.e. using teepees, feathers, and other references in paintings) ?
I would say they are borrowing definitely, but I think it's a bit of an afterthought. The designs, colors, and layouts that originate from Navajo rugs or Pueblo pottery or whatever North American tribe the "look" comes from is so detached from its original state. It probably doesn't help seeing chicks like Ke$ha prance around on the American Idol stage with a headdress on. The general audience probably doesn't realize that wearing a headdress for instance is disrespectful to customs and traditions. Maybe the general public thinks it's okay to borrow imagery cause they think it's not an issue anymore. But in reality, there are many issues you don't learn in elementary, middle, or high school. And, that, is just one of many problems...
Do you think thats a new trend in hipster art?
Yeah. It's definitely "cool" to reference indians. Kinda reminds me of a quote from Sherman Alexie, where he's saying something like "All the hippies just wanted to be natives anyway…" or something like that. It's this deeply engrained stereotyping of this western ideal American indian who is one with nature and the animals. Dances with wolves shit you know?
Whats up with Navajo prints...i heard they're a really popular now...
haha yea I saw that the other day online. It's funny seeing stuff in Forever 21 on the coat rack and I swear i've seen that pattern in my grandmom's rugs. so far removed from its context…
What is the main focus of your current work your working on right now?
Actually everything we've been talking about already in regards to fashion. I like this idea of creating a conversation with those who wear native-inspired fashion or present native-inspired artwork, rather than pointing fingers. Nobody's directly to blame, it's just this weird generational gap and media flux that is removing or trying to remove context and respect from culturally and historically dense materials. Hasn't native America been through enough?
I heard you like painting kittens?
Actually not really. I painted a pretty kitty on my skateboard. But that's about it.
Whats your number one inspiration other than nicolas cage?
aw man...The better question is, can anything top nicolas cage?
Hmmm.... i guess not.. well moving on.. Can you talk briefly about your life threatening Four Loko addiction?
No...
O.......K.........ummm.. Who is your least favorite artist?
I don't like whimsy pretty shit. maybe Sylvia Ji. I don't get it. Oh, and Charles Martin 4realz.
Do you have a favorite artist past or present?
hmmmm…….. James Luna opened doors for me, in terms of presenting humor with politically charged art…
Where do pets go when they die?
my backyard…
If you were forced to paint one picture over and over again for the rest of your life till you died what would you paint?
I think Paz de la Huerta. she's so beautiful...
Are there any particular mediums other than just painting that you usually involve yourself in on a day to day basis?
Quilting is a big thing. I wish I spent more time on it though...
How do you feel about native exploitation in the arts?
How do I feel? It's hard not to feel strongly about something that hits so close to home. I didn't really feel too politically motivated until I moved to San Francisco. I think that's when I realized the scale of stereotyping, and the fact my grandparents receiving running water only since the millennia at their homes was kind of a big deal. It clicked in my head the level of power that art could influence those in the bay area about a culture miles away--yet firmly engrained in the Bay Area's history.
Do you ever feel like people pigeon hole you into being solely a native artist and nothing else?
Initially, I was worried about that. I came out to california to make art that I didn't see in new mexico. It's hard making art separate from this "Santa Fe aesthetic" when Santa Fe is an hour away. By "Santa Fe aesthetic" I mean this aesthetic of art that fits a certain type of mold of what native american art "looks" like. There's nothing wrong at all about making traditional jewelry, pottery, rugs, or paintings. Nothing at all. But when tourists and outsiders start to expect a certain image from you, coming from a Native American tribe--that, becomes a problem.
Luckily I feel like I use enough crazy imagery, symbols, and contemporary issues that I can break outside of that mold. I also start from a different position, because I, too, am an outsider in many ways. I grew up in a very much "Americana" household: television, internet, and movies. So, for me, it all feeds into my perspective of a constant struggle between "cowboy vs indian" or "colonized vs colonizer" or "us vs them." I make sure I stay true to myself, before I start going off making politically charged statements.
Do you enjoy video work as much as painting?
Kinda. i love editing video. they both kinda influence each other...
Tell me a little a bout "indian costumes" if you can...
sheeez… Halloween indian costumes have been a reoccurring theme in my work whether i want it to or not. I guess I started getting irritated with "slutty native" costumes cause it just perpetuated Native American women today as exotic, sexualized, one-dimensional creatures. Not to mention, dressing up as an indian is basically saying you're dressing up as a fantastical character--something that doesn't exist. Try walking into a pow wow with an outfit like that and tell me how it goes..
Have any art shows coming up?
Yes… A Nicolas Cage and Kittens show in the works… As well as some other big ass projects… and on April 22nd i have a show at the Galleria de la Raza
Who is this andrew luke baldwin guy?
luke andrew baldwin? the most amazing man ever?
Any last words or people you want to embarrass?
My mom is my biggest inspiration, so, there you go. Though that probably isn't going to embarrass her...
Erick Lennin Andino "Natures Lost Highway." Erick is an sf based artist originally from Honduras. this particular peice is from a series of images combining foto and collage work to create intricate layers of conent and composition
2/26/11 PHEELICKS ARCHULETA INTERVIEWGot in a quick interview with the san jose legend and multi talented member of the band the Mumlers before he hit the road for another west coast tour yesterday...
Bredio Cedeño A, Harold Tomlinson, Antonio Navarro, Jose Manuel Quelne, T.F.M., Ricaurter Marengo, and Rafael Gonzalez on a skate tour in Central America. foto: Josue Watts
Fargo North Dakota Skatepark. A long drive along highway 94 East through the dry abandoned plains will bring to you to a place where the locals speak a different toungue and the skate spots are few and far between but the skatepark is a hidden treasure awaiting unsuspecting travellers in search of mellow transition and spacious skateboarding terrrain..
Bryan derballa is a photographer based in new york city. he is constantly putting out new work and works as a photojournalist contributor for the wall street journal. he is also founder of a photography blog known as lovebryan.com. this an essay on scraper bikes in oakland entitled: scrapin'
Art show up at Whiskey Theives, sf on geary inbetween Larkin and Hyde.. Artists: Max Marttilla, Laura Onsale, Luke Baldwin, Chris Atwood, and Spencer Keeton Cunningham
