In this photographic audio installation, the audience is invited to take a picture with life-size images of James Luna, a Luiseno Indian, wearing one of three native costumes (contemporary, basic breech cloth and "Wardance" outift). The work explores the fascination that the general public has for "their" Indians, a fascination that often ignores the reality of the Indian in America today. The accompanying audio addresses the artist's frustration with the commercialization of Indian people.
Artists' Biography
James Luna is a Luiseno Indian artist living on the LaJolla Indian Reservation in North County, San Diego. Luna's multimedia installations and performances have received critical attention for their views on contemporary American Indian cultures. In 1992, Luna received a "Bessie Award" for performance. He was included in the Whitney Biennial 1993 and is currently "Distinguished Visiting Professor" at the University of California, Davis.
History of the Site
