Statement 2019
Transcription of the statement for the 21st Biennial
When it comes to painting, because of historical government campaigns to extinguish the populations of native Americans, my cultural identity is very important to me. I am a product of the assimilation campaign (and other government programs). The content of my work reflects my perspectives and understandings as a contemporary native American male living in the 21st century in the US.
I feel my work offers an expansion to the definitions of indigenous art. As an artist trained in the principles of modern art, I compete in mainstream arenas as a native artist working beyond the boundaries associated with traditional native art expectations.
This movement shows itself in my work as I was emotionally agitated witnessing events at the Standing Rock reservation in 2016 on social media (because of health issues, I was unable to travel there). I also spoke with many people who attended the North Dakota Access Pipeline protests. From this information, I made sketches and created nine paintings for a solo exhibition in 2018 at Bockley Gallery titled Jim Denomie, Standing Rock Paintings. Several of the narrative paintings depicted the assault and military tactics used by racist police and a private security company against peaceful and unarmed protesters.