Description

Each Twin Cities Pride Artist in Residence was asked to create a piece of art that was their interpretation of the 2024 festival theme: Pride 365. 
 
11x 17 Print – Alicia De La Cruz Pride 365 Print 

Artist Bio:
Alicia De La Cruz is a native artist from Minneapolis, Minnesota and an enrolled member of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.

My work reflects the contemporary native art style and a touch of old style Ojibwe art with my own twist. Especially important to me in my work is the preservation of my culture, through both language and art.

I enjoy using beadwork, painting, mixed media, ink and marker in non-traditional ways to showcase my own identity as a native artist and also as a woman of the 21st century. I love the intricacy of beadwork, which inspires me to connect with my ancestors through a beautiful traditional native art form. Color, medium and design are carefully considered in how they reflect me and my culture. It’s important for me to show the craftsmanship and vision I put into each piece from start to end. In my eyes, it is the responsibility of each native generation to revive and renew the Native art form, and I’m here to do just that.

Artist Statement:
The piece I created is in honor of all two spirit relatives. It features a jingle dress dancer in the center in rainbow regalia. The jingle dress dance is a healing dance and originates from my tribe, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. I also added Ojibwe floral in rainbow colors all surrounding the most important element, which is the four directions in the center. The four directions are represented by the colors red, yellow, white and black. This symbol invokes many things including the 4 directions (north, south, east and west), the four stages of life (birth, youth, elder and death) and much more. For this piece, the four directions represent the balance of life and a remembrance to celebrate yourself in all stages of who you are, 365.