Jacob A. Meders, Trading Views, Dividing Lines Revisited
Jacob A. Meders
1977-
Mechoopda / Maidu
Date
2020
Medium Specific
Hand-carved woodcut print
Edition / State
3/5
Classification
Print
Dimensions
Sheet: 66 x 42 1/2 in. (167.6 x 108 cm)
Accession Number
2021.20.20.05
Credit
Gift of the Artist
Memo / Artist Statement
The printed image has long been an instrument used to shape perspectives and senses of truth and fiction. Since the late 15th century and early 16th century printed images were used by Euro-Western society to portray the lives of the Indigenous Peoples of the “newly discovered” Americas. The single classification of “Indian” was given to extremely diverse groups of Indigenous Peoples. This misnomer, incidentally, was due to Columbus’ lack of geographic sensibility. Upon reaching American shores he believed he had landed in India. Coincidently the Dutch West India Company soon began their exploits in the Americas and the printed works of Theodor de Bry documented much of their first contacts.
Theodor de Bry never traveled to the Americas. Similarly, during the early years of European settlement on North American land, many artists who had never come into contact with Indigenous peoples of the Americas were depicting often fantastic images of them based off of “first hand accounts” of European exploits. I am interested in creating a dialogue that examines the complex misrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples that has occurred since first contact.
Visually I am incorporating an aesthetic that emulates late 15th and early 16th century woodcuts and etchings. The process and visual aesthetic relates to the early historical documentation of the Indigenous Peoples of North America. Historically, in reference to Indigenous Peoples, printmaking was used by Euro-Western society to reaffirm itself as superior. Drawing upon vast experiences of forced assimilation, the human figures in my work embody both Indigenous and Euro-Western cultures. The duality found in these figures is a visual challenge to historical and contemporary projects of homogenization and erasure.
What theories have we taken for truths? What conditioning have we accepted as our nature? What stories have we taken for granted? Who are the rightful storytellers? How has the print as a medium applied a larger sweeping view?
Theodor de Bry never traveled to the Americas. Similarly, during the early years of European settlement on North American land, many artists who had never come into contact with Indigenous peoples of the Americas were depicting often fantastic images of them based off of “first hand accounts” of European exploits. I am interested in creating a dialogue that examines the complex misrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples that has occurred since first contact.
Visually I am incorporating an aesthetic that emulates late 15th and early 16th century woodcuts and etchings. The process and visual aesthetic relates to the early historical documentation of the Indigenous Peoples of North America. Historically, in reference to Indigenous Peoples, printmaking was used by Euro-Western society to reaffirm itself as superior. Drawing upon vast experiences of forced assimilation, the human figures in my work embody both Indigenous and Euro-Western cultures. The duality found in these figures is a visual challenge to historical and contemporary projects of homogenization and erasure.
What theories have we taken for truths? What conditioning have we accepted as our nature? What stories have we taken for granted? Who are the rightful storytellers? How has the print as a medium applied a larger sweeping view?
Biography
Jacob Meders is a member of the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, California. He presently lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Jacob possesses a BFA in painting with a minor in printmaking from Savannah College of Art and Design and a MFA in printmaking at Arizona State University. In 2011 Jacob established WarBird Press, a fine art printmaking studio that he operates as the Master Printmaker in Phoenix, AZ. Currently Jacob also is an Assistant Professor in Interdisciplinary Arts & Performance at Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ.
Date of Bio
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