The Young Americans

An exhibition of contemporary Native American art at North Bristol’s dedicated Native American gallery, Rainmaker Gallery.

“This spring Rainmaker Gallery showcases a new generation of Native American artists. These young creatives bring an explosive visual mixture of techniques, experimentation and individual perspectives that shatter clichéd perceptions of ‘Indian’ art and life.”

“The Young Americans presents photography, printmaking and painting by 16 artists from 20 tribal nations. Many of these artists are drawn from the alumni of the Institute of American Indian Arts, a wellspring of creative
innovation since the 1960s.

“Building on the legacy of those groundbreaking indigenous artists who came before them, these young Americans are unapologetically forward-looking and simultaneously self-reflective. They offer a refreshing
perspective on what it means to grow up in the United States today.”

The exhibition features bold prints by Jordan Craig, colourful abstractions by Terran Last Gun and an astonishing
reconstructed self-portrait by Navajo artist Greg Ballenger. It includes the supernatural narrative photography of Cara Romero, dynamic figurative images by Manuel Ramirez and vibrant artworks by Yatika Starr Fields and Phillip Vigil.

“Collectively these artists, embrace influences from traditional Native American design and 18th-century portraiture to contemporary street art and Japanese anime, creating a rich experience of pattern, texture, colour and content.

“The contemporary expressions included in this exhibition are a snapshot of the vast Native American talent very much alive and making a mark in the world. Educated, articulate and fearless, this generation of Native artists epitomises the exciting and fast-changing scene of indigenous art.”

“As a Native contemporary artist and craftsperson of North America, I am motivated to reclaim and reframe a more accurate version of 21st century Indigenous culture and its powerful global relevance,” explains artist and activist  Cannupa Hanska Luger.

Featured artists include George Alexander (Muscogee), Marla Allison (Laguna Pueblo), Greg Ballenger (Navajo), Jordan Craig (Northern Cheyenne), Del Curfman (Crow), Yatika Starr Fields (Osage, Cherokee & Creek), Terran Last Gun (Piikani), Cannupa Hanska Luger (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikawa), Robert Mesa (Navajo & Soboba), Mikayla Patton (Oglala Lakota), Manuel Ramirez (Otoe-Missouria), Cara Romero (Chemehuevi),
Kali Spitzer (Kaska Dena & Jewish), Eugene Tapahe (Navajo), Phillip Vigil (Jemez Pueblo/Jicarilla Apache) and Crystal Worl (Tlingit & Athabascan).

March 21-June 8, Tue-Fri 10am-5.30pm/Sat 10am-5pm. Talk and gallery reception with artist activist Cannupa Hanska Luger, Thur May 9.

For more info, visit www.rainmakerart.co.uk/young-americans-21-march-8-june-2019

Pictured: Cara Romero, Coyote Tails No.1