What is an American?

Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, artist

Cultural affiliations: Enrolled Salish, member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation of Montana, Cree, Salish, Shoshone, Interior Salish, Flathead

1940–2025

What is an American?, 2001–2003

Where object was made: United States

Material/technique: acrylic; metal grommets; chine collé; lithograph

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 1746 x 1017 mm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 68 3/4 x 40 1/16 in
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 1746 x 1017 mm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 68 3/4 x 40 1/16 in

Credit line: Museum purchase: Gift of Arthur V. Neis

Accession number: 2009.0127

Not on display

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Power Clashing: Clothing, Collage, and Contemporary Identities

Quick-to-See Smith models her work after the Native American parfleche, a folded rawhide carrying bag. These bags were traditionally decorated with images that related the personal and cultural histories of those who used them. In her contemporary take on a parfleche, Smith conjures a history of assimilation and hybrid identities. The central striding figure wears traditional Native American dress, although the cropping of the work at the head and ankles deliberately obscures the wearer’s gender and ethnicity. The figure is surrounded by images of white-American pop culture, including Mickey Mouse, Barbie dolls, and the repeated image of a buffalo reproduced from U.S. postage stamps. Made in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, What is an American? explores expressions of national identity while pointing to a long history of injustices on American soil.