Work > Murals

Land Acknowledgement- Norman, Oklahoma 2020
Land Acknowledgement- Norman, Oklahoma 2020
Spray Painted Mural
Variable
2020

Site specific installation at the University of Oklahoma Graduate Student Art Annex. This piece was painted in conjunction with additional works for my graduate thesis project. Playing off of the idea of a land acknowledgement, this piece is a visualization of two things, first the tribes who have historically been in the Norman, OK area as well as tribal nations that are in the area today. This includes the Wichita, Caddo, Shawnee, Apache, Osage, Kiowa and Chickasaw nations. This piece also includes the initials of notable Native & Indigenous alumni from the University of Oklahoma as of 2020. This list parallels a similar concept in style writing; the "roll call." The roll call can be a list of crew members or deceased friends, which can act as an acknowledgement and also a remembrance. Finally, the C/S at the bottom of the piece is a symbol often seen accompanying a roll call or style writing piece. The Con Safos translates from Spanish as "with safety" or "with respect." A symbol of both declaration and protection, it is the finish touch and statement, a notice that no one can or should disrespect the accompanying artwork once a C/S is placed. This piece is an acknowledgement that there have been a multitude of Indigenous and Native people connected to the land in Norman, Oklahoma as well as artists who have added to the history of OU. My work has its place in that continuum as evidenced by this piece. Painted in 2020, the piece had lasted at least until 2022, current status is unknown.