Apsaalooke/Tsistsistas (Crow/Northern Cheyenne) artist Ben Pease stands firmly upon the ideal of education via creativity as a contemporary storyteller. Pease’s work is well known for its unique and culturally relevant style using historic photographic references while also addressing current events and issues. In the contemporary art world, indigenous artists often confront issues like cultural appropriation, exotification, racism and stereotype disguised as appreciation and oblivion. In this talk, Pease touches on these issues through stories and learnings from his own life. Following the talk, with suggestions from the audience, Pease painted over a previously created painting of Christopher Columbus, using red paint, the same color as a statue on which audience members were asked to write words that came to mind when thinking of Indians.

Recorded at the Museum of the Rockies on October 24, 2019.