We the Resilient by Ernesto Yerena

Artist Ernesto Yerena honors Helen Red Feather of the Lakota tribe during the Dakota Access Pipeline protest. Inspired by a photo originally taken by Ayşe Gürsöz, Yerena combines both street art and politics in hopes of reminding the country the true nature of its inception. Yerena references the hardships Indigenous people have gone through in the US and calls on us to stand behind and support the cause of Native communities who must fight for their rights to their sacred land.

INTERN’S TAKE

Intern Oscar Flores-Montero explains why he chose this print as a Work of the Week:

I chose this artwork because of my love and respect for the artist. Yerena masterfully blends politics and street art in a way that frames the subject beautifully without taking away from the message. I feel that artists of color are underrepresented within art museums. Yerena is a great example of someone who is not only talented, but uses his platform to promote the well-being of other minority groups.

~Contributed by Oscar Flores-Montero, Appalachia Now! intern supported by the NEA, undergraduate student at Elon University