Two Lakota people are among this year’s recipients of the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation’s National Artist Fellowships. Sixteen artists in 5 categories are selected for the honor each year from the Alaska Native, American Indian and Native Hawaiian communities.
The Native Arts and Cultures Foundation supports the vision, creativity and innovation of Native artists in a variety of disciplines.
Cannupa Hanska Luger was born on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and grew up drawing. Yet he describes himself not as an artist…but as a “maker”.
“I like making things,” says Cannupa, “regardless of what it is. I’ll come up with a concept or an idea and the more facets that I have to produce that idea the better off I am. So I’m…I’m all over the place.”
Cannupa explores his creativity through painting, sculpture, music, film and anything else that offers him the opportunity to acquire greater artistic skills. He plans to use the money from his fellowship to fund a project that’s already in progress called “Everything…Anywhere” – made of ceramic…steel and fibers.
“So this piece is a large head and it talks about matriarchy,” Cannupa explains. “ And this Mother Nature kind of form. And so it’s this big disembodied head that sits in this room. And her hair is made out of all these different fibers. And it rolls out across the room and around and kind of envelopes you.”
“Everything…Anywhere” is scheduled for a future showing in Colorado Springs.
Cheyenne River Sioux tribal member Tioksan Ghosthorse is a musician, radio host and international speaker on peace, Indigenous beliefs and Mother Earth.
“And often bring the urgency of climate change,” comments Ghosthorse. “And I speak not on behalf of anyone except my ideas about peace with Earth rather than peace on Earth…because I know from the elders here in South Dakota that there’s no concept or word for domination.”
In addition to Tioksan Ghosthorse and Cannupa Hanska Luger the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation has supported 180 artists and organizations since its fellowship was created.
Related links:
Native Arts and Cultures Foundation