Short Summary

On September 27, 2014, Redskin, a pop-up solo art exhibition including paintings/installations and an 8 hour long performance art by Indigenous artist Gregg Deal (Pyramid Lake Paiute) will premiere during the annual Washington DC event Art All Night: Nuit Blanche. During the course of Art All Night, Gregg Deal will subject himself to a variety of abuses  -- mental, verbal and even physical -- routinely endured by Indigenous people. These interactions will be documented and translated into a short film of the same name. Your support of this campaign is key to the ongoing Indigenous art/activism that grounds Gregg's work, particularly within the context of the issues surrounding the Washington DC NFL franchise.

What Is Needed 

This campaign is purely donation and/or sponsorship driven. Donations or Sponsorship can come from individuals or businesses.  Incentives will be provided in the form of pure hearted thanks in the film, and in the case of more substantial donations and/or sponsorship, prominent acknowledgement will be made on all collateral media such as the website, posters, printed materials at the exhibition, or even written pieces by the artist. 

Funds are needed to cover a variety of expenses. In conjunction with the performance piece, Deal will have paintings that coincide with the performative work. Additionally, collateral printed materials are essential, and funds are required to obtain props, items of clothing for volunteers, food, materials for art installation, and various other vendors such as photographer, videographer, et cetera. The breakdown is as follows:

Printed Materials: $500

Materials (for performance props, etc.): $600

Materials (for art installation, paint, ect.): $900

Clothing for volunteers (uniforms): $300

Photographer (includes rental equipment, etc.): $700

Videographer (includes rental equipment, etc.): $700

Editing: $650

Food (for volunteers): $300

Travel: $350

You can help in one of four ways: 

Donation

You can make your donation to this project at a price decided by you, the donor. Your donation will be acknowledged in all collateral materials (printed, online and otherwise), and will be credited in the short film. 

Sponsor

Sponsors can donate to a specific part(s) of the project as dictated above. Sponsor will be acknowledged in all collateral materials (printed, online or otherwise) and will be credited in the short film.

Title Sponsor

The Title Sponsor would sponsor the entire event which includes the performance piece and coinciding art installation. The Title Sponsor’s name will be prominently displayed in every piece of collateral material (printed, online or otherwise) as well as credited in the short film as a supporter of the work. 

Other

Any other support proposed outside of the aforementioned options is welcomed, and may be discussed with Gregg Deal.

The Impact

This performance examines identity, stereotype, and microaggression as experienced by Indigenous people in America. The following is a synopsis of the performance piece, a cornerstone to this project:

Synopsis

In his performance piece during Art All Night, Gregg Deal will subject himself to abuse mirroring the various types of injury routinely endured by Indigenous people. Executing this piece within the Nation’s capitol is especially provocative as it is part of an ongoing conversation about the problematic and racially charged name and imagery associated with the Washington Football Team, The Redskins. While Deal’s performance stands as an illustration of the racism directed towards Indigenous people (including Deal), it is part of a greater statement about the incredible amount of inequality, bigotry, and misunderstanding experienced by Indigenous people, often expressed through both covert and overt hostility. As an indigenous person, Deal will exhaustively endure abuse, a taxing effort mentally, physically and spiritually. 

Examples of scenarios within the performance

At least 3 non-Indian participants will work as antagonists for this piece, subjecting Deal to the aforementioned abuse. Here are a few scenarios:

Red Face: Non-Indians dressed with “Indian war paint” and “fake headdress” try to convince Deal their actions honor him.

"You’re just not Indian enough": Antagonists will evaluate Deal's identity, speaking critically about his conformity to stereotype (e.g., "you don’t look Indian to me," explaining the ways they perceive his identity as a Native person). 

Redskins: Singing the team song “Hail To The Redskins”, preaching about honor, listing off other arguments and "Facts."

Purpose

The truth of microagression towards the Indigenous in America is overlooked at best and supported warmly at worst. This piece is meant to interrogate the experience of the Indigenous in America and the way others engage with them. Additionally, this piece is very personal and reflects the artist’s own experience, specifically the lack of control Deal has felt throughout his lifetime with regard to his identity. Of course all of this becomes even more provocative within the context of the “Redskin” debate, which will be explicitly referenced throughout the performance piece. 

End Result

This interactive performance will be thoroughly document through photography and film, and will ultimately comprise the subsequent short film. Reactions from the crowd, interviews, and the many social and philosophical aspects of this piece will drive the content, using art as a vehicle through which the inequality experienced by Indigenous people is made clear.

Risks & Challenges

Your donation supports art and its use as a powerful tool of activism and education. Your donation makes the statement that you support the continued grass roots effort to change the problematic attitudes and perceptions American Culture holds about Indigenous people, that you support changing the name of the Washington Redskins, and that you support the art of Gregg Deal, an important Indigenous voice in contemporary art. 

Other Ways You Can Help

Some people just can't contribute, but that doesn't mean they can't help:

• Share, Share, Share. Sharing this campaign is helpful as well. The more this gets out there, the more chance donations come in to support this effort. 
• Volunteer! Gregg needs help on this effort. Lots of it.