EAGLE BUTTE, SD (July 1, 2022) — The Cheyenne River Youth Project’s 8th annual RedCan invitational graffiti jam begins next week. Starting on Wednesday, July 6, new and transformative public art will rise in the heart of the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation — but that’s not all.
During this four-day arts and culture festival, community members and guests will be able to enjoy youth art and recreational activities, a Lakota dance exhibition, community meals, and cultural performances with special guests including the renowned Mvskoke Creek/Seneca hoop dancers The Sampson Bros., Sicangu Lakota hoop dancer Starr Chief Eagle, and Cheyenne River lyricist Let It Bee.
“We can’t wait to welcome our community and guests back to RedCan,” said Jerica Widow, programs director. “We have an exciting lineup of artists and special guests, and we’re looking forward to connecting our teen art interns and Lakota Art Fellows with this year’s featured artists. We also will have a wide variety of art activities for kids of all ages, which will be inspiring and fun.”
The action begins on July 6-7, when 11 Native and non-Native graffiti artists will be painting large-scale murals at select sites across the city of Eagle Butte. While the featured artists paint in the community, volunteers from Ursuline College and the University of Missouri-St. Louis will be offering youth activities at Dairy Queen, 24325 U.S. Hwy 212, and at the apartment complex on Main Street between H and G streets, where last year’s “Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ” RedCan mural is located.
July 6
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: DJ Siouxpernatural, Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ apartments
• 11 a.m.: Bubble painting and bubble wands, Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ apartments
• 11 a.m.: Play-Doh making, Dairy Queen
• 2 p.m. Popsicle stick bracelets and sun catchers, Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ apartments
• 2 p.m.: Interactive portrait making, Dairy Queen
• 4 p.m.: Spin art and watercolor silhouettes, Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ apartments
July 7
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: DJ Siouxpernatural, Lakota Thrifty Mart mural site
• 11 a.m.: Canvas bag tie-dye and tissue paper art, Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ apartments
• 11 a.m.: Moon Sand making, Dairy Queen
• 2 p.m.: Spin art and watercolor silhouettes, Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ apartments
• 2 p.m.: Moon Sand making, Dairy Queen
• 4 p.m. Artist Class (Ages 13+), Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ apartments and Dairy Queen
On July 8-9, RedCan artists will move to CRYP’s free, public Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Art Park for two days of painting. In addition to the youth activities, the schedule in the art park includes traditional Lakota dancing, hoop dancing, storytelling, food and fellowship.
July 8
• 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: DJ Siouxpernatural
• 11 a.m.: Leaf painting, squeegee art, making stress balls, book making
• 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Lakota Dance Exhibition
• 2 p.m.: Keepsake origami boxes, Starr Chief Eagle class, Artist Class (Ages 13+)
• 4 p.m.: Artist Class (Ages 13+), Field Day activities
• 6 p.m.: Community meal hosted by USML
• 7 p.m.: Live performances from Starr Chief Eagle and Let It Bee
July 9
• 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: DJ Siouxpernatural
• 11 a.m.: Pulled string art, tie-dye socks, color-blocking Zentangles, Three Marker Challenge, Starr Chief Eagle Class
• 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Lakota Dance Exhibition
• 2 p.m.: Artist Class (Ages 13+), Sampson Bros. class, frozen T-shirts activity
• 4 p.m.: Artist Class (Ages 13+), Field Day activities
• 6 p.m.: Community meal hosted by Redco
• youth art7 p.m.: Live performance by the Sampson Bros.
All activities, performances, and community meals are open free to the public. And, as always, the Wakinyan Maza drum group will begin and end each day with songs and a blessing at CRYP’s Čhokáta Wičhóni (Center of Life) teen center.
Held in the heart of the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation, RedCan is the first and only graffiti jam in Indian Country. For four days every summer, this award-winning event offers an unprecedented opportunity for the Cheyenne River community and its guests to connect with Lakota culture while also experiencing the largest art movement in the history of humankind.
To learn more about RedCan 2022 and to help support CRYP’s youth art and recreational activities during this year’s event, visit www.lakotayouth.org/redcan.
The Cheyenne River Youth Project is dedicated to giving our Lakota youth and families access to the culturally relevant, enriching, and enduring opportunities we need to build stronger, healthier communities and a more vibrant future together.