Evan

After this portrait was created, I knew instantly that the goldfinches “the Ojibwe cultural toolbox” was what my son was using to guide his hand, showing him where to aim his intentions in life. The hunt. It can mean many things to many people across cultures. This is what it means to my son.

When my son got his first deer at his very young age, he not only was responsible for taking the deer’s life, but he was responsible for cleaning the deer and removing all of the meat from the bones for packaging. We then held a special ceremony. A first kill feast is a traditional right of passage in our household. As his mother, I ceremonially and physically offer my son a bite of the meat he has provided. He holds up his hand and refuses me, and says,

“No, I am thinking of the elders who cannot hunt for themselves.” I offer him a taste again, and again he refuses me.

“No, I am thinking of all of the children who don’t have enough to eat.” I offer him a taste again, and again he refuses me.

“No, I am thinking of my community and all of the people who came here to support me.” I offer him a taste once more and he finally accepts the meat.

My husband then tells him that he has just changed his life. He says, “up to this point, you have relied on others to provide for you, and now you can provide not only for yourself but for others too. This is what it means to be a provider.

When you achieve great success and abundance, whatever that means, whether its an animal you’ve killed, rice you’ve harvested, or money you’ve made, it is your responsibility to think about your elders, young children, and other members of your community. That is what it means to be a provider. That is what it means to be a man. You have changed your life today and no longer a child, you are now a man.

After the feast, he then packages up all of the meat he has provided and he gives it all away. How does one become a man in American culture? Is it when you can drive? Or when you get your first job? Is it turning 18, a magical number? Does that hold meaning? What does it mean to be a man? What defines manhood? In today’s culture I honestly don’t know. In this portrait my son is no longer holding an arrow, because he’s no longer on the verge of manhood trying to prove himself. His arrow has already landed. He’s already accepted the responsibilities of manhood with Ojibwe traditional teachings a his guide.

Awards:

Fusion Art 5th Annual Artist's Choice International Exhibition Finalist Awarded February 2020

Exhibitions:

“Identity” The Atrium at the Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, MN U.S.A Sept 21- Nov 5, 2023

“Identity” The Edge Center, Big Fork, Minnesota U.S.A July 1 - July 31, 2023

“Identity” Hopkins Center for the Arts, Hopkins MN U.S.A. May 18 -June 17, 2023

“Identity” Great River Arts, Little Falls Minnesota U.S.A. Jan 1- March 1, 2023

“Identity” Northwest Art Center, Minot State University, Minot North Dakota U.S.A Nov 1-Dec. 1, 2022

“Boom” Focus Art Fair Invitational, Carrousel du Louvre, Paris France September 1-4. 2022

“Identity” The Whit Gallery, St. Cloud, Minnesota U.S.A March 25 - April 16, 2022

“Americas 2021” Northwest Arts Center, Minot State University, Minot ND, U.S.A Aug. 13th - Sept. 25th, 2021

”Prelude” Invitational @ The White Gallery, St. Cloud Minnesota U.S.A, May 1 - June 26, 2021

“My American Experience” O’Hanlon Center for the Arts, Mill Valley, California March 8 - April 30, 2021

“Identity” Duluth Art Institute, Duluth Minnesota, October 2020 - January 2021

“Who are you” Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol California, TBD

“Identity Portraits” Watermark Art Center Bemidji, Mn January 10th - March 28th, 2020

“5th Annual Artist’s Choice” Fusion Art International Online Exhibition February 2020

Publications:

Raw Art Review Winter 2020

SonderMidwest Issue V April 2020