There’s still time to support Cheyenne River Youth Project®’s acclaimed RedCan graffiti jam, scheduled for July 6-9 in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Through Crowdrise, the nonprofit youth organization seeks to raise much-needed funds to cover the costs of paint, art supplies, food and beverages, and artists’ travel expenses.
Several of the headlining artists have made their own financial contributions and are sharing the Crowdrise campaign through their personal and professional networks. Four of these artists also hail from the Midwest; based in the Twin Cities, they are Biafra Inc., Cyfi, Daesk and Wundr.
These four artists will join headliners Scribe, Serval, East and Kazilla, local Cheyenne River artists, and youth artists of all ages for four high-energy days overflowing with art, music, culture and fellowship.
Not only will the artists be painting in CRYP’s Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Art Park, they’ll be adding their unique murals to various buildings around the city of Eagle Butte. Community members and visitors also will be able to view 20 pieces of the current art interns’ work in Cokata Wiconi’s classroom space, and on RedCan’s final night, acclaimed native rapper Supaman will rock Waniyetu Wowapi.
“We’re incredibly excited to bring RedCan back to Cheyenne River this summer,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “Here at CRYP, we’ve seen firsthand that art heals kids. It saves lives. It also provides the means for an incredible union of artwork, artists and cultures.It strengthens connections to cultural roots even as it breaks down walls and facilitates meaningful reconciliation and cross-cultural understanding.
“It’s simply remarkable, the magic that happens here,” she continued. “I think that’s why so many of last year’s artists are eager to return this July. RedCan’s energy stays with you, and it draws you back.”
Biafra—who took his name in part from Jello Biafra from the band Dead Kennedys—is returning for his second RedCan experience and is a frequent guest instructor in CRYP’s teen art internship program. His work is a visual retelling of stories that are part of his life; much of it takes a critical look at “white” culture.
A multifaceted artist, Biafra uses a variety of mediums, including spray paint, screen printing, stencils, stickers and posters. As his work spreads across North America, he continues to work tirelessly to get his imagery out to the public.
“My work is a reflection of the culture around me,” he writes. “I retell stories that I have experienced or been told through my illustrations and large-scale murals.”
Rock Cyfi Martinez is a newcomer to the RedCan scene. Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Cyfi now lives and creates in Minneapolis. Pulling from elements of his surroundings in nature and life, he uses these themes throughout his work; he also is influenced by his Mexican American heritage and native descent. A self-taught artist born in 1980, Cyfi has more than 18 years of experience as a freelance muralist and has produced more than 300 murals during his career.
Accomplished Minneapolis-based artist and art instructor Peyton Scott Russell (Daesk) has been devoted to graffiti art since he was first introduced to it as a high school student more than 30 years ago. After graduating from the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in 1991, Peyton became a professional artist and art instructor, teaching the Art of Creative Lettering. He founded organization such as House of Daskarone, Juxtaposition Arts, Art House Education and Sprayfinger. He is a 2012-14 Bush Fellow, and he remains committed to increasing the awareness of graffiti as a teachable art form through community events, exhibitions, workshops, lectures and writing curricula.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Peyton back for RedCan,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “Not only was he instrumental in creating the event, he worked closely with us to build the teen internship art program. He continues to develop and manage the curriculum, and he serves as our lead art instructor.”
Like Daesk and Biafra, Wundr also serves as a returning guest instructor for CRYP’s art interns. Known for his playful, mischievous and always evolving illustrations, he will be participating in his second consecutive RedCan graffiti jam on Cheyenne River.
The characters he creates don’t represent any specific individual. Rather, in his words, “they are stitched together from pieces of all of us.” Wundr is currently producing artwork in multiple mediums, including murals, illustration, toys and fine art. Influenced by traditional graffiti, cartoons and comics, Wundr’s work provides a fresh take on designing characters that are constantly creeping into known habitats.
For a peek at what you can expect at this year’s RedCan graffiti jam, visit the youth project’s YouTube channel. In the video library, you’ll CRYP’s trailer for the 2016 RedCan event, as well as a 12-minute documentary from 2015.
To stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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.