Native American Artist Exhibits Work Addressing Gun Violence and Colonialist Trauma
SANTA FE, New Mexico – Jacob Johns, a 41-year-old Native American artist from Spokane, Washington, who became a victim of gun violence during a visit to New Mexico last year, has returned to the state to showcase an exhibition that includes paintings of his alleged shooter.
At the opening of his exhibition this month in Santa Fe, Johns performed a traditional drum song as members of the nearby Santa Clara Pueblo danced beside a portrait of Ryan Martinez, the man accused of shooting him. Martinez is scheduled to face trial on October 8 for attempted murder in an alleged hate crime, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
Johns’ artwork addresses his primary concerns: justice for indigenous peoples and climate justice. His portrait of Martinez is a reflection on colonialist violence against indigenous communities and the ongoing inter-generational trauma inflicted upon them. “I wanted to do something to, like, first, purge myself and free myself from the weight that was associated with all of this, and also invite the community to be able to have a way to vent,” Johns said. He added that visitors were encouraged to interact with the artwork, using markers to express their feelings on the canvas.
One visitor left a poignant message: “The Pueblo Revolt Lives Forever 1680,” referring to the Native American uprising that temporarily expelled Spanish colonizers from New Mexico.
Johns was in New Mexico for a climate event when he joined a protest against the proposed reinstallation of a bronze statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Onate. This statue, originally erected in the 1990s to commemorate Spanish settlers, is seen by many Native Americans as a symbol of colonial oppression and genocide.
On September 28, during a vigil in Espanola, approximately 26 miles north of Santa Fe, Johns joined the protest. Martinez, who was wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, was reportedly among counter-protesters. Martinez is alleged to have shot Johns at close range as he attempted to enter the protest area.
