Powerful PhotoArts Exhibit by Sage Paisner

"Spider Rock Overlook Where We'd Play at Sunset"




"Castle Rock from Our Backyard

"Temporary Space" (l) "Permanent Space" (r) Wind Cave, Black Hills, South Dakota Silver on Gelatin 22"x 18"

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"This Does Not Belong to You"

by Sage Paisner

CalArts MFA PhotoArts Thesis Exhibition was shown on March 4, 2010 with an opening lecture by American Indian Movement Leader Russell Means at CalArts.
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[Sage Paisner's MFA 2 Photography and Media graduate thesis show was at CalArts - California Institute of Arts at 24700 Mc Bean Parkway in Valencia, California, 20 miles northeast of Los Angeles in Gallery D301 on Thursday, March 4, 2010 with an Exhibition Opening from 7 to 11 p.m..]

Sage Paisner's powerful exhibit includes large format 4' x 5' black and white photo portraits, small black and white landscapes, projections, video photo montages and video interviews with the subjects of the portraits.

Sage Paisner photographs American Indian Movement leaders, mothers, grandmothers, warriors, and relatives on Alcatraz Island, in the Black Hills and on the Pine Ridge and Navajo Indian Reservations nearly 150 years after the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty with the Lakota and 40 years after A.I.M. takeovers of Alcatraz and then, Wounded Knee Village in 1973.

"David Swallow Jr. - Medicine Man"
Silver on Gelatin, 7' x 5'

Paisner juxtaposes larger than life portraits with triptychs of resevation landscapes tied to his subjects and childhood home reduced to an intimate size.

"Navajo Nation"
Silver on Gelatin, 3' x 6'

Paisner’s iconic 4 x 5 foot black and white photographs portray the humanity, dignity and diversity of American Indians in the 21st Century. Identity and photography have a complex role in the way American Indians are portrayed and viewed by the outside world. By photographing family friends who he has known from childhood and their relatives, Sage Paisner brings an intimate perspective.





































"Vanessa Brown - Shoe Sale for Angel House Foundation"
Silver on Gelatin, 7' x 5'


A video loop on a television on the left side of the gallery shows 6 interviews with American Indian leaders Amber Two Bulls, Billy Soza Warsoldier, Shirley Waterhouse, Smurf, Vanessa Brown and Norman Patrick Brown. Vanessa Brown spoke about her Lakota grandfather who inspired her to become a Sundancer and join A.I.M. in her teens.































"Vanessa Brown talks about the teachings of the Sacred Medicine Wheel.





Paisner repeats footage of Navajo filmmaker Norman Patrick Brown telling the story that gives the exhibit its name. Norman's father, who he describes as "ancient school, not old school" told his son, "Those don't belong to you. Your creativity, your mind and gifts, those belong to the Creator, those belong to the People. Be careful what you do with them."















"Fresh Fry Bread Served Daily"
Chinle, Navajo Nation
Silver on Gelatin 3' x 6'

Like 19th Century photographers, Paisner takes a large format 4 x 5 foot camera out to Indian Reservations, but unlike Edward Curtis who took wigs and costumes to make his subjects reflect his idea of authentic Indians, Sage Paisner photographs family friends who choose their own clothes and reveal their authenticity on their own terms.























"Pearl Means - Activist"
Silver on Gelatin 7' x 5'


















"Alcatraz and Navajo Code Talking"
Silver on Gelatin 3' x 6'










Gallery View (left)











Gallery View (right)


Paisner's work connects to the tradition of black and white portraiture of the Western Landscape and American Indians through his training at the University of New Mexico (B.A., Summa cum laude, Honors, 2005). But Paisner creates a reciprocal relationship with his subjects who are finally given voice through videos of them talking about their portraits Indian Identity, Census Numbers, A.I.M. and reservation life today.















Shirley Waterhouse Interview on television.
"Pearl Means - Activist" on left.










Three screens show Lakotah Medicine Man David Swallow Jr. speaking with photos and video of reservation life alternated with video of an upside down U.S. flag - the universal symbol of distress - blowing in the wind.

Gallery view on right with television showing montage of landscape video and text about growing up on the rez in Chinle and Tuba City, landscapes, portraits and projectors.

Video and audio of David Swallow Jr. sets the tone.

"My name is Wowitan Yuha Mani. I am a TetohLakota of the Wa Naweg’a Band and I live on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota."

Wowitan Yuha Mani speaks about the Black Hills and the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868.

"This is the way my Grandpa Najutala told me, a long time ago. He was a teenager when the 1868 Treaty was signed. He’s gone now but this is how he told me about the sacred Black Hills."

David Swallow Jr. tells the story of how his wife Nila Helper's grandfather survived the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890 by a beaver who called him to safety into his den where two other Lakotah boys who had fled were already hiding.

Paisner juxtaposes photographs of American Indian Kitch at tourist traps on highways in the West with his photos of real people and places in Indian Country.

"I-40, U.S.A."

Silver on Gelatin 3' x 6'

"Norman Patrick Brown - Film Maker, Activist"
Navajo Nation
Silver on Gelatin 7' x 5'

In “This Doesn’t Belong to You,” the audience hears directly from American Indians today who repeat their stories of dedication to the people.“This Does Not Belong to You” is what Norman Patrick Brown’s father said to remind him that his creativity and mind belong not to himself, but to the people and the Creator.

"Returning Home Stop"
Silver on Gelatin 3' x 6'

Three projections are shown on the back wall of the gallery with two photo portraits of Uncle Billy Soza Warsoldier, one in front of his tribe's Morongo Casino and one in front of his red truck and a painting he did of the U.S. flag flying upside down to signal distress.

"Aztec Medicine Man - Sunrise Ceremony"
Alcatraz Island, California
Silver on Gelatin 7' x 5'

"Ayisa, Jarel, Navea

- The Seventh Generation"

Porcupine, SD, Wind Cave, SD, Tuba City, AZ

Silver on Gelatin 3' x 6'

Process is a crucial part of Sage Paisner’s art practice. He takes his camera, traveling darkroom, trays of chemicals and video camera out to the community, involves them in the whole process and makes the magic of photography accessible.

"Smurf"

Porcupine, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota

Silver on Gelatin 7' x 5'

"Mantra - Uncle Billy Soza Warsoldier - Painter, Activist"

Projection of 3 Images with Audio

This series by Sage Paisner also includes more portraits and/or video of Russell Means, Dennis Banks, Clyde Bellecourt, Pearl Means, Billy Soza Warsoldier, Norman Patrick Brown, Willie Long Reed, Shirley Waterhouse, Vanessa Brown and other American Indian leaders and more landscapes and ndn kitch photos of the Black Hills, Pine Ridge and the Navajo Nation.

"Russell Means Holds 'Lakotah Toilet Paper'"
Screen Print 30" x 22"

Republic of Lakota Leader Russell Means - Guest Lecturer at Opening

American Indian Movement Leader Russell Means was the guest speaker at the opening of "This Does Not Belong to You" - by Sage Paisner, CalArts MFA Photo/Media Arts Thesis Exhibition on March 4, 2010 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. to an attentive audience of CalArts President, Provost, Dean, Faculty, Students, Administrators and Guests.

Mr. Means with his silkscreen portrait by Sage Paisner 2010.

Sage Paisner and Russell Means at CalArts on March 4, 2010.

Pearl and Russell Means with Sage Paisner and his fiancee Scarlett Widgeon.

Russell and Pearl Means, Barry Paisner and Charleen Touchette at Sage Paisner's Exhibition, 2010.

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Sage Paisner's art is available for exhibitions and sales. Dealer inquiries welcome.

Contact SagePaisner@aol.com