Da-ka-xeen Mehner  and I have interesting stories to tell. I think that our stories are very compelling and are about how to navigate the challenges we all encounter along the way. It’s not so much about what happens, but how we all respond to the quirks we encounter. Life is certainly not predictable.

Da-ka and I flew in on Keet Air*, naturally.

I would put forth the case that life is bewildering at best and illogically paradoxical at worst. Doesn’t it seem that some of the things that happen in the world defy logic? Commander Spock would be totally appalled and order that he beamed back forthwith. It seems that we don’t have that luxury, so we’ve just got to deal with it.

This is where things get interesting, because artists enter the fray and offer their take on what’s going on. I like it that artists offer their interpretations of what’s going on with the universe, because sometimes they’re their take on things are right on target, and it isn’t always so much about what is examined, as it is the visual manifestation of how they relate whatever is is that they’ve learned or experienced. This sometimes translates to images that speak to your life force instead of your intellect. In my opinion, it is what we artists do best.

Sometimes when I’m teaching I finish a session by asking if anyone has any questions about anything. If they’re all quiet I say “Nothing? What about the meaning of life? Any takers?” Some of them smile, and I tell them that it’s kind of a one-liner, kind of not, because if they get exceptionally well at what they’re doing, insightfully examining  life is exactly what they’ll be doing with their art too.

I feel good about this exhibition and presentation for a few reasons. 1) It is at the C.N. Gorman Musuem, a place unique in the universe of museums in the world, run by Hulleah Tsihnahjinnie and Veronica Passalacqua. Sure, it’s small, but it also offers viewers unique voices in the world of art. Please make this a regular stop when you’re in the area. 2.) It is a two person exhibition with Da-ka-xeen Mehner and myself. We are connected by blood in the most direct manner possible in our Northwest tribe; you will witness what it means today in our contemporary world, especially in the midst of everything that is going on at this moment. Because you are experiencing a lot of these events yourself, it is relevant to you, regardless of your cultural background. 3). I am in the midst of making new work, and I hardly ever do exhibitions while in the middle of new work. I usually let the work “settle” a bit especially as new ones are constantly added. It’s kind of a sneak preview of things over the horizon.

As a side note, I understand that the first game of the world series is on the same evening we’re doing our talk. Wouldn’t you know it? We do everything we can to plan for a good schedule, but something unexpected invariably intrudes on our plans. Record the game, have fun with it later and have fun with us in person. I hope to see you there.

*Keet Air is an inside joke, because Keet translates to Killer Whale, and we’re both men of the Killer Whale Fin House, which is what the wing kind of looks like. Da-ka’s son is also named Keet.

You are cordially invited, Wednesday, October 27th 6:00pm at the C.N. Gorman Museum.

Here is a link to place, map & time: C.N.Gorman Museum

I am very pleased and honored to be in a special exhibition with my nephew Da-ka-xeen Mehner at the C.N. Gorman Museum at the UC Davis campus near Sacramento. Da-ka-xeen and I were invited by their Director, Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie and Curator Veronica Passalacqua to have a two-person exhibition, opening today.

Early this spring we were brainstorming about  a title and I kept going back to our Uncle-Nephew connection, which is very special amongst our Tlingit customs. We all agreed that it should be Dakl’aweidi Kéet Gooshi Hít, Du Kaak, Keilk – Yee Wduwa eex’. In Tlingit it means Killer Whale Fin House, Uncle, Nephew – You are Invited.

As is with our formal time-honored custom, when introducing ourselves, we identify our House (hít) first, so people will know where we and our people are from. It is the Kéet Gooshi Hít, or Killer Whale Fin House in Klukwan, Alaska. It is one of the oldest clan houses on the entire Northwest Coast. It is where a lot of carvers go to see how Tlingit carving was done in ancient times, and some carvers have even called our clan houses in Klukwan The Cathedrals, because they have some of the oldest and most beautiful carvings in the Northwest. We are very proud that they are not in museums, and are a vital part of the living community.

Da-ka-xeen is an art professor, artist and photographer, who also happens to be my nephew. I cannot tell you how pleased this makes me, because Da-ka and I have been close since he was born. I can remember when he first went off to Art School at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe and how remarkably well he did there. He blossomed with his art and it was clear that he was in just the right place. It was gratifying to see that he had an entire community of fellow artists to learn and make art with. I was gratified again to see that he was so exceptionally gifted not only with photography, but with sculptural and installation work too. Da-ka has taken off with his career since then and his curriculum vitae is jam packed with exhibitions and awards. He is also an Art Professor and the new Director of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks Native Arts Center.

Da-ka-xeen

I think that perhaps what connects us in addition to our family lineage, is our approach to art. It is a no-holds barred, no holding back wrestling match with life. So life gives us a hearty body slam? Well, we give one right back, only we use our art as our method of expression. You, the viewer can tell us how well we’ve done in this match. I’m never quite sure how well I’ve scored, all I really know is that there is always more art to be made. I have new works from my Global Climate Crisis Fellowship included, and both of us have been shooting Kodachrome in homage to its eminent demise later this year. I have not yet had the opportunity to see Da-ka-xeen’s new work, so some of you will have the privilege to see it before me.

Please join the C.N. Gorman Museum in welcoming this new art to the world. Da-ka-xeen and I are going to be at the museum sometime in mid-October to give our talks, so stay tuned!

Da-ka-xeen Mehner Website

C.N. Gorman Museum