Alicia Saltina Marie Clark
Artist Statement
"Myth, legends, mystery, and the Native American portrait are portrayed in conceptual painting and illustration, mixed with minimalist and post modern ideas. Bringing old and new ideas together to express the idea and thought of an endangered culture in a time of change.
I myself being a Native American of the Caddo Hasinai tribe, have struggled with observing my culture disappear. I have somewhat kept a small grasp of my ever-changing endangered culture. Through research and findings, I have discovered old stories written down by George Amos Dorsey and preserved by the Carnegie Institution of Washington. These tales were told by my Great Great Great Grandmother Annie Wilson, her father Moon-Light, and her Grandfather White-Bread, who are referenced in the book Traditions of the Caddo, recorded by George Amos Dorsey. These tales told about the Girl who married a Star, the Coyote who regulates life and death, the Rabbit and the Dancing Turkeys, etc. I have been incorporating these stories into paintings. I believe this is a step in continuing the preservation of my ancestors. I am excited to share my vision and the stories of my relatives. I feel it is important to remember the past so we can grasp an ever changing future. Wise stories of the past should be embraced; we learn so much from our history no matter what our culture or beliefs are.
I work to embrace and share through art the wisdom and legends of an endangered species, both the human and the animals whose culture and habitats seem to be disappearing at an extreme rate."
@saltstina
Alicia's work was included in our exhibition, SideStories, June - September, 2017.
