INSIDE Self Help Graphics Gallery in Boyle Heights, the walls become sacred space. It was important to pay homage to all artists who let me show their work: so I roll called them.

The WhatTribe Project Art Show was not about big names, fame or political correctness. It’s about addressing the issue of stereotype via constructive positive dialogue with artists in community. It was also (I hoped) an opportunity for emerging artists to work with more established ones in a new school fashion.

In the process of creating, curating and executing the show, I’ve made new friendships and strengthened old ones. Though I can’t speak for all artists or tribes, no matter where we’re from we have roots and specific social mores unique to our own families/tribes/cultures. Whether Native Californian or Native American, I wanted to show and share similarities we have. All of us are “tribal ” people in some manner.

We all have a lot of work to do in bringing communities , artists, leaders and tribes together around important issues we all face. I figured WHAT TRIBE was a good place to start. Hope you all get to see the show and of course there will be others. Right now I’m busy writing down thoughts on this show and it’s importance to the communities involved. Thank you all artists and friends that helped along the way. It’s only a beginning.

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