Monday, June 01, 2009
David Bradley's Native American sendups


In August, Southwest Art publishes its annual Native American-themed issue. One of the talented painters featured is the award-winning Chippewa artist David Bradley. Bradley's intriguing images arrived this morning and made me smile. I found myself scouring Pictures at an Exhibition (click above to enlarge) looking for famous faces amid the art crowd at his imaginary Santa Fe opening.

In American Gothic (at right), Bradley's wry social commentary brings together television and art world icons. The Santa Fe-based painter sent me this statement about the piece:
"Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz meet Tonto and the Lone Ranger. Tonto and the LR are retired and running a B&B called the Silver Bullet. O'Keeffe & Stieglitz are tourists. Stieglitz is rolling his eyes after their encounter with Tonto, who sold them some curios from his stand."
What sendups. Bradley gives us much to think but softens his message with a dash of the ironic among the iconic.
—Bonnie Gangelhoff


Dispatches from the West | Notable Artists
6/1/2009 10:41:13 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)  #  Comments [2] 
6/1/2009 11:05:39 AM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
What fun! It always adds a special layer of pleasure to an artist's work when there is a touch of irony. Bradley does this well --
6/3/2009 9:11:42 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)
After the Mona Lisa, American Gothic must be the most parodied work on the planet.
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