Oglala Lakota Walt Pourier’s (right) art work is featured during a three month run at the Colorado state capital in Denver.
Oglala Lakota artist featured at Colorado’s capitol building
By Karin Eagle
Native Sun News Staff Writer DENVER — Oglala Lakota artist, Walt Pourier, is set to celebrate the opening of his art exhibit at the Colorado state capital in Denver. Pourier’s art will be featured in Lt. Governor Joseph Garcia’s office. As part of American Indian/Alaskan Native Heritage Month, Pourier’s “LIVE LIFE” Call to Action Campaigns of the Stronghold Society will grace the halls of the capital to bring awareness and recognition of the first inhabitants of the state of Colorado. Pourier’s Raven Cry Fine Art Paintings and Skateboard deck art, including Stronghold Society deck collections from John Pearson, Jeff Wood and Louie Gong are featured. Stronghold Society’s ONE Gathering Skate For Life and Kimimila Age of the Daughters Photography from Walt Pourier, Armando Martinez, Diane Allison and Denny Fenbers are also part of the exhibit. Pourier is the Executive Director / Creative Director of the Stronghold Society. The Stronghold Society nonprofit dedicated to instilling hope and supporting youth movements through “Live Life” Call to Action Campaigns. Pourier grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in Pine Ridge Village. Much of what he experienced growing up has helped create the focus of his work now. His focus through his art and design and through the many creative movements he supports is to share messages of hope, inspiration, and healthy way of life outlooks. Some of Pourier’s outreach efforts have included youth movements, language revitalization campaigns, suicide prevention, and ending domestic violence in and around Native communities. “Over the years, we have grown to be recognized as an organization that is doing some very “grand” undertakings in Indian Country and elsewhere,” explains Pourier. “Our passion is to maintain that. Therefore, we were encouraged by our family, friends, clients and associates to create a movement which would allow all of them to help us to help others.” That is how Pourier and his team came to creating the Stronghold Society, a tax-exempt 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. With help from his wife, Allison Pourier, along with other family and friends like Jim Murphy, Lonnie Pourier, Danica Brown, his mother Marilyn Pourier and Darius Smith, many of the dreams to help Native communities have come to realization. More information on Pourier’s projects, including his artist residency at the Colorado capital building can be found at www.strongholdsociety.org. (Contact Karin Eagle at staffwriter@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission by Native Sun News
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