Gerald Clarke Jr.

Cahuilla Art

Presenter: Liliana Rosen

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Academic Year: 20-21

Semester: Fall

Faculty Mentor: Jeffrey Reeder

Department: Native American Studies

Funding Source/Sponsor: SYRCE Symposium

Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1SmBKKCWTL7P9XiPNiB355KeY1sga_BF8

Abstract:
The artist I chose to highlight was Gerald Clarke Jr. I chose to highlight Clarke because his art was made to show the persistence of Indigenous communities that are trying to survive today's society. His art also shows his personal journey. He was raised partly on a Cahuilla Indian reservation with his dad and then also in Orange County with his mom. One collection that really stood out to me was the “Road Sign” collection. His “Road Sign” collection is shown on college campuses such as the Palomar College in San Marcos, California, which is on the Payómkawichum territory. The “Road Signs” are also on other Indian reservations that were there till they were shot down by shotguns. Overall, I think that Gerald Clarke Jr.’s art is very important and should continue to be shared.