2022

My great-grandfather owned a trading post at a crossroads in Sheridan, WY in the mid-late 1800s. He forged many friendships with individuals in the local Crow tribe. He was a photographer and artist and they allowed him to photograph their portraits for both documentary and artistic purposes. This is the first of a series of paintings based on these photos, which I hope to consult with Crow tribe members so that the subject matter can be treated and shared in a culturally sensitive manner. In making this portrait, I concentrated on the distinctive crevices in the face. For me, this face was symbolic of the ravages that the Native American people as a whole have endured.