The Identity Politics of Indigenous Artist Gregg Deal – At The Fridge

There Is No Plan B

Gregg Deal at The Fridge Last Sunday

Not Confident About Immigration Reform

The Fridge Owner and Curator Alex Goldstein and Gregg Deal (standing) at Last Sunday’s Artist Talk

Deal Created the Mural on the Wall of The Fridge in June, 2015

The Identity Politics of Indigenous Artist Gregg Deal – At The Fridge

by Larry Janezich

Gregg Deal is a Pyramid Lake Paiute artist and activist.  His current show at The Fridge through May 1, “There Is No Plan B” raises questions regarding the complex identity of indigenous people as it exists within Western culture. Deal talked about his work at an artist’s talk last Sunday at The Fridge: his art is calculated to start a conversation about the complex social-cultural identity of indigenous people and how they are viewed.  Gregg says, “When you can facilitate conversations through art, you can change lives.”

Gregg told the audience, “I’m not a Native American artist – I’m a contemporary artist that happens to be Native American, and this [my art] is my experience.”  Commenting on the contemporary nature of indigenous arts, Deal says, “There’s a place in my heart for more traditional things indigenous people make…but there’s a large number of indigenous people who are contemporary artists and contemporary art is important because it expresses something – your art is your life.  Often times a statement is being made that relates back to being the person you are.  One obstacle we face as indigenous people is proving you exist – contemporary art is a good way to do that.”

Trained as an oil painter, then print as a maker and graphic designer, Deal’s art is the result of combining everything he has ever done. He says, “Every artist has things he draws from.  The thing that got me started was social media manipulation.”  His work spans an array of media, including visual art, murals, print work, performance art, time lapse videos, and conceptual art.  See his website, here:  http://greggdeal.com/

Deal was one of the group of Native Americans who confronted a panel of Washington DC football fans supporting their team’s name on the Daily Show in September, 2014.  Deal says that the Daily Show created a new context to have a conversation about the controversy over the team name using comedy – “laughing about it changes minds – art does the same thing.” For the WaPo account of that event, go here:  http://wapo.st/1TC6ylr

Deal just finished a three-month stint as artist-in-residence at the Denver Art Museum and has recently relocated his family to the Denver area.  To watch an interview with Deal done during his tenure as an artist in residence go here: http://bit.ly/1N0WUY6

For details on “There Is No Plan B” and for more on upcoming events at The Fridge, go here:  http://bit.ly/1VHnzef