Geri deGruy's blog of art, musings, and inspiration

This show is an absolute treat! If you are in the Denver, CO area, don't miss Super Indian at the Denver Art Museum! It ends soon,

 January 17, 2016.

Fritz Scholder was one quarter Indian, but he vowed to never paint Indians as every other artist was doing in Santa Fe.  However, as he saw the erroneous depictions of Indians he became angry and wanted to paint truer images - "real, not red."

This first Indian painting was incredibly controversial and just in case people didn't know, he painted "Indian" on the picture itself. 

Insane Indian #26

Here are bright colors! Large-scale images of vibrant, unique people. Yes, some are named things like "Insane Indian" or "Indian Monster." But the paintings are alive, not flat and dull and grim as so many images of Indians seemed to be. 

Indian Power

These are large, powerful images. 

Included are a number of paintings of slaughtered Indians - fierce, large, violent pieces. He captures the awfulness, the aloneness and senselessness. I include only one here. 

Dog and Dead Warrior

The short film about Scholder shows him painting, literally splashing the expanses with bold paint, quickly laying down color and letting the image emerge. Wonderful!

Super Indian #2

American Portrait with One Eye

Fritz Scholder by Andy Warhol