Indigenous ArtWalk
Bell Arts hosts an American Indian art show
By Marissa Landrigan 11/01/2007
The whole story is this: “The Creator told me to do a show, so I did it!” According to Diane Pineda, organizer of the collective Native American art show that will be on display at the Bell Arts Factory Community Room during the Nov. 3 ArtWalk, it was really that simple. For about a year, Pineda has been mulling over the idea of this collective show. Now, it is finally a reality.
Her goal was to create a show that would benefit Native American artists, particularly elders and children, who may not have the money or ability to travel to pow-wows and share their art in that forum. By making it a free event, Pineda hopes to enable the artists to make some money through their participation, either to supplement their finances through the holidays or just to help aspiring children buy more art supplies.
“I especially want to help the children with their self-esteem,” Pineda said, “and encourage them to continue down that path.” Because of that motivation, neither Pineda nor Joanne Zivich of the Bell Arts Factory put much concern into the type of art that would be in the show. “We’re not expecting huge masterpieces,” Zivich said, referring to the children’s art. “We’d rather have a small offering from the heart.”
But the adults participating in the show look to offer a stunning variety of work, both traditional and new age. In seeking out artists, Pineda tried to stay within the community, but soon found that many of the artists she had known had relocated all over the country, and the 10-20 artists who will be presenting are from as far away as Oklahoma. The art ranges from traditional Chumash clapper sticks to Apache canvas paintings to Native American clothing lines. Pineda will be displaying her own work, including dream catchers and dance jewelry made from traditional materials like rabbit skins, shells and acorn. Another local artist, Robert Morgan, focuses mostly on musical art, such as rattles and clapper sticks, and also carves hairpins from wooden spoons — “Indian recycling,” he calls it.
The running theme is a celebration of Native American past and present, a trend which is reflected both in the materials used to create the pieces and the finished products themselves. Another local artist, Regina Quinones, exemplifies the dichotomy. She will be displaying rocks that she painted for a U.S. Forest Service display with actual representations of original petroglyphs, for which she obtained permission from tribal elders. Other pieces of hers, however, focus on current events that affect the Native American community, by collaging a traditional feather-holding tube with newspaper clippings about Native American life.
The artists said they use primarily found objects, ranging from acorns to turtle shells to fallen pine needles. Pineda said, “Our people used to do a lot of traveling and trading; I sometimes have a stick for years before I know what I will make out of it.” Pineda’s goal is reflected in the effort she put, individually, into organizing the show.
Zivich commented on how impressed she is with Pineda’s activity level: “This is just a person, in her community, doing something. She’s not an organization. She doesn’t have a board of directors. She’s doing it all, and she isn’t getting anything out of it.” To capitalize on the anticipated foot traffic, Zivich suggested holding the show during ArtWalk, in the community room where the Tortilla Flats mural project is still on display, in hopes of drawing as large an audience as possible.
The show also intends to focus on the idea of establishing communication throughout the community, based around shared art and culture. The American Indian Council Candelaria will be in attendance, distributing information on their programs, which include education, artistic grants and food share programs. In this, and many ways, this collective has become more than an art show — it is a center of communication, a way to start a dialogue. Zivich is already planning new children’s programs at Bell Arts involving some of the Native American artists. Pineda’s ideal of helping Native American artists of all ages communicate and share with one another seems to be working.
A show like this can start a community dialogue. Children will be noticed and given positive reinforcement, possibly for the first time, about their art. They can also learn from the ways of their elders, and gain a wider understanding of their cultural heritage. Most of all, Pineda hopes, this event will be the first in a series of many: “I’d hope that every year, more and more people participate, and we can start giving back to the community that inspires us.”
From concrete to canvas
Local music scenester Jeff Hershey picks up a new instrument: a can of spray paint
by Joan Trossman Bien
The pop-punk quartet No Motiv has disappeared from the music scene, but one member is trying to push the limits in another arena. Bassist Jeff Hershey of Ventura has temporarily traded his ax for a spray can. His unconventional artwork will be on display and for sale during the Ventura Artwalk. Hershey was asked to exhibit his paintings along with other artists at Mac Talk on Thompson Boulevard. Although Mac Talk is not officially affiliated with the Ventura Artwalk, it joins many other stores and restaurants in the area in showing off local artistic talent.
Hershey is a rookie artist. “I’ve never sold any art,” he said. “I have paintings for sale, and that makes me nervous. The art is not about making money. If the paintings don’t sell, cool. I worked hard to put these three pieces together. When (the store) wanted to put these up, it kind of lit the fire underneath me to finish them.”
Hershey refers to his style as graffiti and stencil art.
“My whole approach is I’m taking art from the streets to the canvas. It’s an urban art form. I use all spray paint. My art store is the Home Depot.”
Aware that graffiti is closely associated with vandalism, Hershey explained the history of modern graffiti and what makes it legitimate.
“The thing that makes it illegal is that people do it on public or private property that does not belong to them,” he said. “It is just that style of urban art that was created by kids 20 years ago that had no money.”
“I don’t condone vandalism, but there’s a fine line between it [and graffiti art],” Hershey continue. “If you are going to do it, it has to tie in with the architecture. It has to mean something. It’s not just people tagging their name with something you can’t read covering up a sign.”
Hershey described his three projects that will be for sale at Mac Talk.
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Jeff Hershey.(Photo by Lucas Deming)
“One of my pieces is an Alfred Hitchcock silhouette, but within the silhouette it actually spells out his name,” Hershey said. “Another one is a take on the movie Frankenstein — like a Frankenstein fist. It is almost like a Black Power fist. It makes that statement. But it is obviously a Frankenstein fist.” The final work addresses Hershey’s obsession with old horror films. “There is another one that I entitled ‘Scream Queen.’ It is based on a random image that I found from a vintage Famous Monsters in Filmland magazine. I tweaked it to make it my own: total shock and terror, but you don’t see what is on the other side.”
Hershey admitted he has some collections that are starting to outgrow his budget.
“I don’t like to think of myself as materialistic, but I kind of am. I collect vintage horror memorabilia,” he said. “The original Universal Frankenstein is my favorite movie. I own a third edition hardcover copy of the book.”
Returning to the subject of his personal art projects, Hershey ruminated on the roadblocks that face all artists.
“It’s kind of hard to be original these days. Everything has been done. I’m not claiming to be the next best thing, but how many more oil paintings of landscapes can you see in your life and appreciate?”
Hershey is giving his artistic side a boost by enrolling in several art classes at Ventura College. And he has developed respect for his classmates.
“There are so many of my peers at school who are much more accomplished than I am. My style is more a thing for the streets,” Hershey said.
Although Hershey still sees himself primarily as a musician, he said he is making room for other possibilities.
“Art is a really big part of my personal life right now,” he said. “My art is a can of spray paint and an X-Acto knife. I’m really passionate about things and I think art is a step in a good direction for my life. I’m fortunate that people care enough to want to be doing this with me … I’ll try anything that is creative and pushes the boundaries.”
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