I was born in South Dakota and am a Hunkpapa/Oglala Sioux. I was raised partly on the rez up until I was 12, then I went into a foster home situation. I remember living in a log cabin with a wood burning cook stove and we had a hand pump which you had to prime to get it started; there was an outhouse too. This home was lighted by kerosene lamps. As I was growing up, I didn't know it at the time but I was being raised as an Indian. The stark contrast became apparent when I started living with those white foster families. It was a huge culture shock. The good thing about them was they were for the most part good people and provided structure and a safe environment.
In my early years before my mom called me an artist I would draw in the air with my fingers and in school I would draw the teachers with my eyes and they thought I was really paying attention. Then my mom declared me an artist and would tell me to bring my art work to show all her friends and say, "my son is going to be a great artist." About the time I was 12 I had my first art show put on by the Catholic school I attended. My paintings then were patterned after Peter Max. I loved being an artist then, and I still love being an artist. You are always creating in your mind and can see things, kind of like remote viewing.
© 2007 Star Route Studio