Gregg Deal – Mentoring Artist Talk via Zoom

Gregg Deal is a husband, father, artist and a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. As a provocative contemporary artist-activist much of Deal’s work deals with Indigenous identity and pop culture, touching on issues of race relations, historical consideration and stereotype. With this work—including paintings, mural work, performance art, filmmaking and spoken word—Deal critically examines issues within Indian country such as decolonization, the Native mascot issue and appropriation.” – TEDx Boulder

Wednesday, October 20, 2 PM – Mentoring Artist Talk
Presentation followed by Q & A. Free and open to all via Zoom. Click here for Zoom Registration 

Gregg Deal (Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe) is a provocative contemporary artist who challenges Western perceptions of Indigenous people, touching on issues of race, history and stereotypes. Through his work—paintings, murals work, performance art, filmmaking and spoken word—Deal critically examines issues and tells stories of decolonization and appropriation that affect Indian country. Deal’s activism exists in his art, as well as his participation in political movements. He has been heavily involved with the media activist movement #changethename, posting a video to Vimeo inviting Indigenous people’s commentary on the sports mascots issue in response to mainstream media’s attempted erasure of Indigenous voices.

Most recently, a photograph of Deal was included in the December 2018 National Geographic Society Magazine article “Native Americans are Recasting Views of Indigenous Life.” Deal was Native Arts Artist-in-Residence at Denver Art Museum in 2015-2016 and Artist-In-Residence at UC Berkeley 2017-2018. His art has been exhibited nationally since 2002. Deal has lectured widely at prominent educational institutions and museums, including Denver Art Museum, Dartmouth College Columbia University, and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. His television appearances include PBS’s The Art District, The Daily Show and Totally Biased with Kamau Bell. Visit www.greggdeal.com for more information

Residency Statement:

I am an interdisciplinary artist, working in a number of different mediums such as performance art, murals, visual art, spoken word, film, photography, music, installation and conceptual works. A conducive concept that exists in all mediums is the power of presence. This denotes subject, application, process and even how these things are informed. The excitement of different mediums allows for critical thought in how to present these things. I believe this process can exist in a single medium, or across mediums, but is always meant to enrich the artist and practice while challenging viewers. One of my main mediums, Performance Art, allows consideration in subject, visuals, installation, film, spoken word, timing and well beyond.

For the residency, we will meet as a group the discuss work, listen to others in presenting, critiquing and observing practices and concepts. This is not beholden to a specific medium, but to the broader concept of artistic practices. Critiques are meant to be constructive, but honest, supportive and above all else, respectful. Sharing is important together, and these things will contribute to working together as well as working independently. Residents will help inform the work that is done together or individually as we push one another.

My hope is to work with other artists with the desire to think critically about their own practice, finding inspiration in other artists, mediums or other ideas. Challenging each other to rise to the occasion of creating incredible work, with the power and motivation to create more beyond the 3 week residency. Above all else, my hope is to drop ego, spend time together and inspire one another through shared ideas and space.