Familiar Stances
2011
Spurred by the American Indian's conflict with the United States, this work addresses issues of dominance and submission. The motto "Kill the Indian, save the Man" remains a quintessential scheme attempting to assimilate primitive lifestyles to the Eurocentric mindset. Using vulnerable pauses, I attempt to create idealizations of resistance in the form of implied aggression and isolation, implementing the terrain of the Southwest as a zeitgeist that echoes portrayals of the Native Americans. The photographs become reminiscent of communicating ideas of preservation and loss, and as a result they perpetuate the state of trying to remain within the moment. In history, we are drawn to stories of those that face defeat, yet loss by overwhelming odds does not strip them of their pride. Though my skin is light, I believe there are layers differentiating "being" opposed to "appearing", what we cannot see versus what is obvious on the surface. Interestingly, the viewer finds themselves questioning whether they are stereotyping the cultural references that the images imbue.
All images are 33x38.5", archival pigment prints, edition of ten each
Insurgent
Shaded
The Lookout #1
Blending
Praying
The Lookout #2
Exposed
Blanket