When
I was thinking of doing paintings of the West, I followed my heart
and my long interest in narrative. The real inspiration for me to
paint in this manner comes from the narrative look of ledger
drawings and their primitive quality. It's the only way I know to
paint such scenes in a manner that is pleasing and organized.
I have also found inspiration in the paintings of artists Joan Miro
and Paul KIee, where a central subject may or may not exist, but
enigmatic symbols such as those that appear in cave drawings,
tapestries or hieroglyphics complete the full story. The flexibility
that narrative form allows continually excites me and fuels my
creativity.
Many of my paintings have let me explore the spiritual, war and
social life of the Indians. Through my research I have discovered
that this past century's Native American religious movement was no
abstract spiritual experience but the Indians' very tangible
response to the duress encroaching European civilization pressed
upon their very existence. They had lost their land, their main
source of livelihood - the buffalo - and their traditional way of
life. And they were dying of white man's diseases, sometimes
purposefully forced upon them in an effort to affect their
extinction.
In the past, we whites have portrayed Indian life from our point of
view, forgetting our greed, forgetting the incredible atrocities we
committed against Native Americans. Even though a white man can in
no way fully understand the complexities of Indian spiritual life,
they impress me mightily. I know I will have made some mistakes in
my assumptions, but I'm doing my best to archive their history
without bringing white prejudice to my approach.
Art Works Too is proud to represent Allan's
work here and in the Big Horn Mountain region.
Click on the ThumbNails to the left to
see Adam's work close up, and to find out about availability and
pricing.
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