There are some misconceptions and prejudice about Native Americans, but one artist fights back through her art. Wendy Red Star, part of the Apsáalooke (Crow) Nation, does photography, performances, sound, sculpture, and even fiber art to address these claims.
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/wendy-red-stars-indigenous-gaze
Red Star received a MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in sculpture at the University of California back in 2006. This was right before she created her first well-known series, “Four Seasons.” Dressed in traditional clothes and a panoramic background of flowers, animals, and mountains, the artist is making fun of how Native Americans are usually portrayed.
Four Seasons - Fall
https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/aia-reviews/wendy-red-star-62675/
Wendy’s family was full of talented artists as well—her father was a musician, her uncle a painter, and her grandmother sewed traditional Apsáalooke regalia and beadwork. This might be why she’s so diverse in her artwork today.
In her art process, she analyzes historical primary sources for inspiration and uses them as a basis for her work. She includes annotations and notes that capture every detail in her pieces. Her exhibitions give both adults and children a fresh perspective on Native Americans. In her photographs, she usually does self portraits and stereotypical or real images that reference colonialism.
https://massmoca.org/event/wendy-red-star/
A Scratch on the Earth is her mid-career survey where Red Star brings to life the importance of family, Indigenous roots of feminism, Apsáalooke myths, and the history of Montana. She did a wide range of photos including self portraits, collages, and mixed media and used bits of pop culture.
Today, Wendy Red Star still makes pieces that represent her culture, but she is also teaching Beatrice, her daughter, about art to pass down the artistic legacy that her family has been passing down.
“It is critical to preserve and pass along culture, heritage, and shared values while also providing future generations with a sense of identity, solidarity, and empowerment.” (link).
See more works below:
Series: White Squaw 2014.
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/wendy-red-stars-indigenous-gaze