Chae Patterson
cpatterson3@zagmail.gonzaga.edu
Demian Dinéyazhi
Demian Dinéyazhi is a modern day nonbinary trans artist of the Naasht'ézhi Tábaahá and the Tódích'íí'nii clans of the Navajo who addresses concepts of being 2spirit or nonbinary intertwined with being unapollegetically proud of Native American. This piece, entitled In Beauty it is Restored, is done in the simple visual medium of neon signage that quote inspired from the Navajo prayer "May it be Beautiful" which perfectly combines the historic and the modern to signify how culture adapts to survive. The two colors also could be taken to represent the two genders and that the eye is drawn to the middle first emphasising an inbetween.
This neon sign, entitled My Ancestors Won't Let me Forget This" is similar to the last piece as it again draws roots to a literary writing, this time from the writer's own ekphristic poem "AN INFECTED SUNSET" sybolizing the common perception that American flags are warning signs. Given by how dangerous and aggressive the people who tend to be flying an American flag (especially off a pickup truck) stereotypically are for minorites in society, this message resonates deeply. It's sickly yellow glow also looks corrosive, like the light is leaking into the ground itself.
This piece, titled My Country ('Tis of Thy People You're) Dying, is also the title of a popular song by Indgenous artist Buffy Sainte Marie. Like the song, this banner sybolizes struggle against opression by being faintly there if you don't know about it just like how if you don't know to look for injustice you will have a hard time seeing it. This piece is also a little famous because it was part of an exhibit that was censored by the gallery for showing a piece titled "Defund the police, Decolonize the street" showing that we are by no means done with opression and censorship and this struggle still continues today whether or not people see it publicly.