CURRENT CONDITIONS

An ability to confirm and communicate a certain truth about learned experience is what makes an artist shine. THESE portraits are multi-colored stencil portraits of my Mother and Father on canvas. They measure 36 ” x 36” each. Created in 2006 they were shown once at the Museum of Contemporary Native Art.

Native Art more often than not is an ethnic/anthro-based genre and field run by select key well-meaning organizations that don’t know how to enter a 21 century bursting with new forms to showcase ideas from Indian people who have often seen the world. If it doesn’t fit preconceived notions of native art anthro-dogma, they avoid new works simply because they have no new frames of reference. Most ( not all) Native Art Institutions like (Native) artists quiet in neat palatable packages prepped for mainstream consumption. Summer is here, lets go to the “native museum” !

The conversation in my art I want to have is probably too personal, direct and speaks louder than most collectors, galleries and curators (in the Southwest) care to hear a Native person speak. My art often doesn’t fit certain venues. Especially when artists have a lot to say about current conditions on reservation(s). Everything is not perfect, romantic or spiritual out here in Indian Country. Sometimes when things go wrong in our lives, its quite the opposite. My art at times has become a reflection of this turmoil, trouble and struggle at times. It has also become a point of pride as we endure and we overcome societal challenges.

Native art should’ve never been reduced to mere categorical judgement values via competitions too. Only because the categorization eventually becomes a subliminal barrier to personal art forms themselves.

But that’s a whole other topic. Laying critiques aside for now. I am proud of my tribes and always will be. I will keep making art and keep looking for the correct venues to work with that respect my forms and ideas. For the record , I also support Native Art/ists for Native People.

Thank You ALL for following .

Douglas Miles
Artist/Curator