All for the Tribe

Jacob Cavenee

15 March 2016

Art 177- Photography

Professor Pease

All for the Tribe

            Zig Jackson also known as rising buffalo, was born in North Dakota. Zig Jackson is from Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara descent and was raised in an Indian reservation (Jackson). Zig Jackson was the first Native American to enter the Liberty of Congress photography collection (Portland Museum). Starting off his education in the Indian boarding schools, Jackson received his general studies and training in the arts. After being interested with cameras from a young age, Jackson then moved to his second education in Utah where he picked up his first camera (Jackson). In Utah, Jackson learned about all the Native American difficulties surrounding all the tribes. After graduating college from Oklahoma State in education, Zig Jackson furthered his interest in art learning about pottery and painting (Jackson). Deciding to pursue photography, Jackson enrolled to the University of New Mexico to study photography icons, while also teaching photography to an institute in Santa Fe (Jackson). With an even deeper interest to further his knowledge in photography, Jackson enrolled in San Francisco Art Institute receiving a master in fine arts (Jackson). With photographing powerful messages through cultural standings, representation, and appropriation, Jackson received the Residency Fellowship in California. I didn’t find any information on what Jackson uses to shoot with, but he wants his images to display educational and provocative meanings. “In one sense, it is intensely personal; yet, in another—by virtue of my background and native roots, as part of an indigenous group struggling for autonomy in the shadow of a dominant one—my work cannot escape an implicit politicism” (Jackson).

Jackson takes photos of his background to show the different culture and problems that they face everyday. After looking at some of his images, I wouldn’t necessarily find them funny, but I think that every photo that he takes is significant and really good. I think that if his images were taken by another photographer they would 100% be different. It wouldn’t display the same messages and feelings when looking at his work. His images reflect everything about him in some way, so yes it would be different. Jackson’s work aims to end stereotypes and paternal modes of thinking, drawing attention to the power relationship between photographers and their subjects in different series to end the treatment of Native Americans as exotic subjects (Portland Museum). “As an Indian artist, I feel a responsibility to deconstruct the pervasive myths and misconceptions about Native Americans, in order to reveal more accurate and informed representations. I use my art as a means of de-mythologizing my own history and breaking down the prevailing stereotypes, social constructs, paternalistic attitudes, and romanticized images perpetuated by popular media and folklore” (Jackson). Zig Jackson wants to use photography to document and show to the world all about his culture, giving them a face for people to see and experience all that they can in the pictures that he takes. Leaving the people with a better understanding of what it is like to be a Native American.

(All photos from zigjackson.com)

Works Cited

Jackson, Zig. "Rising Buffalo Arts." Rising Buffalo Arts. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016.

"Coming in Spring 2016: Zig Jackson, Wendy Red Star, Will Wilson - Portland Art Museum." Portland Art Museum. Portland Museum, 09 Apr. 2015. Web. 20 Mar. 2016.