The 9th annual RedCan invitational graffiti jam begins tomorrow, July 5, in the heart of the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation. The four-day, Eagle Butte-based event will run through Saturday evening, July 8.
On July 5-6, 12 featured artists from around the country — East, Cyfi, Hoka, Biafra, Wundr, 179, Lawst, Lucious, Rezmo, TamiJoy, Yukue, and Desi Mundo — will be painting large-scale murals at select sites across the city, while volunteers from Ursuline College and the University of Missouri-St. Louis will be offering youth art activities at two community sites.
On July 7-8, all the action will be centered in CRYP’s Waniyetu Wowapi (Winter Count) Art Park. In addition to mural painting and youth art activities, the schedule also includes art classes with RedCan guest instructors, traditional Lakota dancing, hoop dancing classes, games, community meals, and live music and performances.
RedCan 2023 Schedule:
July 5: Community
11 a.m.: Animal magnets and moon sand at the apartments where the “Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ” mural is located (Main Street between H and G streets)
2 p.m.: Jewelry-making and keepsake origami boxes at Dairy Queen parking lot, 24325 U.S. Hwy 212
July 6: Community
11 a.m.: Watercolor art, nature mandalas, and fortune tellers at Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ apartments
2 p.m.: Spin art and paper-plate masks at Dairy Queen parking lot
July 7: Waniyetu Wowapi Art Park, CRYP Campus
(Google Maps/GPS: 101 East Lincoln Street)
11 a.m.: Cloud dough and sidewalk chalk
11 a.m.: Lakota Dance Exhibition
2 p.m.: Field Day games, friendship bracelets
3 p.m.: Skateboard painting with Biafra and Wundr, spray painting with 179, earring making with Reed Two Bulls
6 p.m.: “Build Your Own Fiesta Bowl/Burrito” — community meal hosted by USML volunteer group
7 p.m.: Live music! Lakota rock band The Wake Singers on the Waniyetu Wowapi Art Park stage
July 8: Waniyetu Wowapi Art Park, CRYP Campus
11 a.m.: Design Your Own Superhero: mask, cape, bookmark; “Calm Down” jars
2 p.m.: Slime-making
2 p.m.: Hoop-dancing workshop with The Sampson Brothers
3 p.m.: Skateboard painting with Biafra and Wundr, spray painting with 179, earring making with Reed Two Bulls
4 p.m.: Water Field Day: capture the waterfall (flag), water target practice, frozen T-shirts, water slide kickball
6 p.m.: Community dinner hosted by CRYP staff
7 p.m.: Live performances from Lakota rap artist Bazille and acclaimed hoop dancers The Sampson Brothers on the Waniyetu Wowapi Art Park stage
As always, the Cheyenne River-based Wakinyan Maza drum group will open and close each day of RedCan with a prayer, smudging and drum song at CRYP’s Čhokáta Wičhóni (Center of Life) teen center for all who wish to participate.
To view the “RedCan: Changing the Narrative” short film, visit CRYP on Vimeo at vimeo.com/lakotayouth (direct link: https://vimeo.com/793015587).
To learn more about this year’s RedCan artists and performers, and to make a tax-deductible contribution to support RedCan 2023, 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.