Gentrification slapoo louie gong paintings

Read more about this piece at Eighth Generation. Visit Louie's Instagram to watch him create the original painting while answering that question in a way that has inspired many. Read more about this mixed media painting at Eighth Eighth Generation. Gong is known for his combination of traditional Native American design with contemporary pop culture icons, or combination of traditional Native American design with traditional Chinese artwork; both make strong statements about identity.

Guardians, His artwork Guardians applies design themes from both Nooksack and Chinese culture that reflect protection and respect.

Gentrification slapoo louie gong paintings

The dominant figures in the design are two Chinese Guardian Lions, designed using Pacific Northwest Indigenous form lines. Additionally, there are three eagles along the center of the piece, each representing progression of personal development. This piece is his most developed example combining both traditional design styles. Slapoo Takes Back the City His artwork Slapoo Takes Back the City uses the image of Slapoo a Native story character known for kidnapping children who do not follow traditional practices or listen to their elders in urban context, picking up a business person in downtown Seattle.

In the background, we see the Space Needle depicted with Native form lines and the faces of wolves - another combination of urban architecture and Pacific Northwest Native design. The Inspired Natives Project continues to show me what is possible and also that we have alot of work to do in our home communities. He believes each "Native-inspired" product represents not only a missed opportunity for talented Native artists to build knowledge through collaboration, it also presents a tangible barrier to Native arts entrepreneurs who must compete for a spot on shelves already dominated by non-Native companies producing product featuring appropriated art.

At the same time, socially conscious consumers who appreciate Native themes and aesthetics—and tribal communities themselves—are consuming these products without conscious awareness of how their patronage either supports or undermines the work of indigenous artists and entrepreneurs. Above all, Louie Gong values action over talk. While Native people have become very adept at the important work of calling out cultural appropriation and misrepresentation, the war cannot be won until we can point to alternatives.