Rebel Deconstructed uses a mix of classic European and American art, fashion photography, and street art methods.
From the artist
LET’S TAKE IT BACK …to 2025. It was @nativefashionweeksantafe and @amberdawngold invited @apacheskateboards1 and team to ROCK (not walk) the runway. Before we walked out and after all the rehearsals, Nate @darklistedphotography took pics of all models and amazing ntv designers. He shot the large portraits. He shot our vintage streetwear , designs, concepts, cultural and intellectual property in this process . Apache has made streetwear for decades. We’ve worked with @volcom @bese@smartwater @suns @verizon @kiausa @atlargemagazine@buffalozine . We dropped footwear with @etnies and our streetwear is NOW available @zumiez
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In the euro-American art lexicon and canons, Native people and art don’t exist. If you don’t fit certain “narratives” you’ll be excluded too. With my own deft form of inclusion (since they’ve left us out) I’ve included Apache people in the Wyeth piece as tribute but also as deconstruction of elitism. My heroes are on the wall. Your heroes are in museums. My heroes are in the street, yours are in a glossy magazine using blk and brown folks as props. My heroes build real community, yours build on tik tok. My heroes came before and after the res, yours are all the elite. I utilized the art we’ve made as symbols of resistance and statements of power.
FAST FORWARD TO NOW…@mchasedaniel curator of @the_lena_wall asked me to create a mural so I sent him the visual concepts. Utilizing a mix of classic European and American art, fashion photography and street art methods this is “ Rebel Deconstructed “ Of course I had to feature the hardest working skate brand in America, the Apache Team which includes Douglas Miles Jr. pro-skater @steezyapachewith @traypolk , @h.ammersmashedface , @tyniethomp , @butchersheepraisehell and @breezemiless alongside @_bexx !! You can reach out and we’ll visit your community and work with you too. All designs , art, concepts, property of Apache Skateboards ( accept no substitute)
Medallion of Doug Miles Jr. @leeenterprises
Assistants @myajordanelese @eyedotjay
With support from @obscuragallerysf
and @josephmsanchezartist
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Douglas Miles (San Carlos Apache-Akimel O’odham) creates art rooted in Apache history and deeply engaged with the world of contemporary pop culture. Miles works as a designer, filmmaker, muralist and photographer, and blends Native history with political resistance. Miles developed and founded Apache Skateboards in 2002. Since its original inception, the program has expanded to include the arts, education, political awareness and empowerment by connecting mainstream skateboard culture with contemporary Native life.
@dmiles1_apache/
@apacheskateboards1
@theindianexpert
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The Lena Wall is a project of In the Family Way. Project support from individual donors, The City of Santa Fe Arts and Culture Department, New Mexico Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Cloud Cliff, and Bekm. Curator and project director is Matthew Chase-Daniel. Thanks to Mya Buffalo and Brent Kie for installation assistance.
thelenawall.com
inthefamilyway.org
@thelenawall
Learn more about The Lena Wall here.
