The Cheyenne River Youth Project’s 10th Annual RedCan Invitational Graffiti Jam comes to a close this evening, Saturday, July 13. The 14 featured artists are painting and working with youth artists in CRYP’s 3-acre Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Art Park, while staff, volunteers and guest instructors engage youth in a variety of art activities, including a dance workshop with acclaimed Mvskoke Creek/Seneca hoop dancers The Sampson Brothers and a teen art class with RedCan artist 179 (schedule below).
RedCan 2024 began with two days of painting at nine large-scale mural sites around Eagle Butte. Yesterday, the featured artists moved to the art park; during the day, youth artists had opportunities to paint skateboards and even create their own work in the park. But that’s not all.
During the first two days of RedCan, Taté Walker, a Cheyenne River Lakota tribal member and award-winning two-spirit storyteller, led a two-day poetry workshop for teens at CRYP. Together, they gave a spoken-word performance in the art park to an enthusiastic crowd.
After the day’s closing drum circle, volunteers from the University of Missouri-St. Louis served an evening meal for the community in the art park. Attendees also enjoyed live performances from Walker and Jackie Bird, a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Tribe of South Dakota and the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota.
ARTISTS:
Returning artists include:
East, an artist of Cherokee descent from Denver; Cyfi, a Yaqui and Azteca artist from Minneapolis; Dwayno, a Salt River Pima-Maricopa and Tohono O’odham artist from Arizona; 179, a Latine artist from Seattle; Hoka, an artist of Oneida, Oglala Lakota and La Jolla Band of Luiseño descent from Albuquerque; TamiJoy, a Cheyenne River Lakota artist; Yukue, from the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Guadalupe, Arizona; Rezmo, a Diné and Mexicá artist currently living in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona; and Minneapolis-based artists Biafra and Wundr.
New this year are:
Phat1 and Lady Diva, Māori artists from Aotearoa (New Zealand); Midwestern artist Brady Scott; and Kansas-born Ponca artist Amp.
GUEST PERFORMERS:
Guest performers for 2024 include The Wake Singers, an Oglala Lakota band from Mni Luzihan; Cheyenne River Lakota storyteller Taté Walker; entertainer Jackie Bird, a member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Tribe of South Dakota and Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota; and renowned Mvskoke Creek/Seneca hoop dancers The Sampson Bros.
As always, the Cheyenne River-based Wakinyan Maza drum group will begin and end each day with songs and a blessing.
COMMUNITY MURAL SITES:
Sturdevants, East Side: US-212 &, Main St, Eagle Butte, SD 57625 (Artist: 179).
Old Agency Building: in front of the CRST Bingo Hall, On Lincoln Street between Jefferson Street and Highway 212 (Artists: Biafra, Cyfi, Wundr).
Si Tanka Trailer: Located on Landmark Avenue between Main Street & Cedar Avenue behind the CRST Fitness Center (Artist: East).
Sturdevants, North Side: US-212 & Main St, Eagle Butte, SD 57625 (Artists: Brady, Amp).
Wakpá Wašté Animal Shelter & Clinic: 16514 Rodeo Grounds Road, Eagle Butte, SD 57625 (Artist: TamiJoy).
Veterans Building: Trailer is located on the Corner of E Tituwan Lp and Highway 212 (Artist: Dwayno).
KIPI Radio: 724 Main St., Eagle Butte, SD 57625. Located on the corner of B Street and Main. (Phat1, Lady Diva).
CRST Vets Food Pantry: Located off Lincoln Street in the same parking lot as the Old Agency Building and the CRST Bingo Hall, all of which are just north of CRYP’s Campus (Artists: Yukue, Rezmo).
Golden Rule, North Side: 212 Main St., Eagle Butte, SD 57625. Located on Main Street and Pioneer Ave; the wall is facing north with a large empty lot (Artist: Hoka).
SCHEDULE OF FREE ACTIVITIES:
Saturday, July 13: Waniyetu Wowapi Art Park
9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Painting at mural sites throughout the park
11 a.m.: Youth art activities
11:30 a.m.: Youth spray painting
12 p.m.: Skateboard spray painting
1 p.m.: Hoop-dancing class with the Sampson Brothers
2 p.m.: Youth art activities
4 p.m.: Art class with 179
5 p.m.: Community meal and live performances in the art park (The Wake Singers and the Sampson Brothers)
To view our new RedCan short film, “Owášte,” and our other documentary projects, visit CRYP on Vimeo at vimeo.com/lakotayouth.
To purchase our new RedCan 2024 merchandise, visit www.lakotayouth.org/shop/redcan-merchandise. All purchases directly benefit CRYP’s youth programming and services.
To learn more about this year’s RedCan artists and performers, and to make a tax-deductible contribution to support RedCan 2024, visit www.lakotayouth.org/redcan.
And to learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project and its programs, and for information about making donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visit www.lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
The Cheyenne River Youth Project, founded in 1988, is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing the youth of the Cheyenne River reservation with access to a vibrant and secure future through a wide variety of culturally sensitive and enduring programs, projects and facilities that ensure strong, self-sufficient families and communities.