Dennis RedMoon Darkeem - December 2020
“In a moment of chaos & uncertainty, I received a phone call that I was accepted for the SPF residency. I was ecstatic for the good news. Overwhelmed with curiosity and joy for this new experience. Arriving at the home feeling overwhelmed with honor, joy and freedom. During my time at the residency I was able to photograph, hike, paint, collect shells off the beach, play loud music, dance around, jump, listen to the night winds, play with stones, see places I would never have seen, meet amazing individuals, have great talks with fellow artists, made a basket or two, make collages, learn how to make rope from plants, do some reading, think about the future of my artworks, create sculptures that turn into a performance art piece, made a video...I was able to teach from my studio, create curriculum and lessons for my students involving nature, meditation and transformation. I had seafood, ordered food, had great studio visits, met other arts organizations, made a snowman, experienced a Maine snowstorm and hours of no Wi-Fi. Being able to wake up to amazing sunrises and walk along the ocean front has given me a new body of work, a deeper love of nature, water, and a transformation that was needed for me to create and learn.”
Image by Heather Henriksen
I am inspired to create artwork based on the familiar objects that I view through my daily travels. I discover elements in existing architecture and among everyday items found within the home. I ultimately set out to express a meaningful story about events in my life and those found with the communities I work. I utilize different media in the creation of my work. This allows for great versatility and a rich viewer experience as the eye uncovers the multiple layers that often characterize mixed media art. Since my work as a professional artist commenced in the early 2000s, it has evolved into critiquing social and political issues affecting US and indigenous Native American culture. Much of my art has focused on issues like institutionalized racism and classism, jarring stereotypes, and displacement of people of color. As a multimedia artist, I express these motifs through fine art, drawings, paintings, collages, photography, sculpture, and installations. Incorporating a craftwork aesthetic has connected tradition with the contemporary. This is prevalent in many of my pieces. I seek to create a discussion through color, texture, symbolism, and geometric designs. This Residency will allow me to explore the historic value of the community and begin to build visual symbolism of cultures that have migrated and left cultural icons through the environment. The benefit of taking part of the residency will allow me the time and space to focus on creating work that I can exhibit. My goal for this residency is to create a small body of work that consists of transforming everyday items into my narrative of Afro- Indigenous expressions. Incorporating a mix of elements from shells , beads, leather, Crystal's, feathers, natural elements wood, branches, Vines Stones along with traditional materials like watercolors, pencils,cray. These artifacts will have dual use cross between body adornment and sculpture work. This work will give honor to communities that have been lost but not forgotten. My goal is to give life to these artifacts that they may empower and create questions on one's connection to their own history.
More of Dennis’ work can be found here