A Deep Conversation With Andrea Day At Positive Space
Description
Andrea Day is a multidisciplinary artist, cultural advocate, accomplished musician, and citizen of the Muscogee Nation. With a profound connection to her culture, Andrea infuses Mvskoke fine art with a contemporary twist through her distinctive medium that combines acrylic paint and meticulously hand-sewn seed beads on stretched canvas. Her dedication to cultural preservation and innovation in ancestral traditions shines through her unique art form, which draws inspiration from the natural world and the collaborative spirit she experienced during her years in New York City.
Andrea’s artistic journey is marked by her innovative “Acrybead™” technique, which seamlessly blends acrylic paint with intricately hand-sewn seed beads, creating a visually vibrant and culturally rich medium, honoring an ancient Mvskoke beadwork tradition while pushing the boundaries of contemporary art. Andrea showcases her original works and designs through her company, A. Day’s Work LLC, offering enhanced giclée prints that incorporate glass bead enhancements to create a three-dimensional effect.
Recent solo exhibitions include “Evolve or Perish” at the Paseo Arts & Creativity Center, OKC, in June 2024; and her premiere solo exhibition “A. Day’s Work” at the Historic Carnegie Library in Guthrie, OK, in 2023. These exhibitions provided a unique opportunity for viewers to experience Andrea’s original artworks and gain insight into her artistic process.
Her career in New York City was distinguished by notable achievements, including a solo debut recital at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall in 2014 and a television debut on "All-Star Celebrity Apprentice" in 2013. Andrea also curated the “Relevant: Reflection - Reformation - Revival” exhibition for AMERINDA, hosted at the Nathan Cummings Foundation in NYC in 2009. This exhibition challenged conventional perceptions of First American art, complemented by her essay, “Relevant: Rethinking American Indian Art,” with an introduction by Dorothy Lichtenstein. Additionally, Andrea made her Off-Broadway debut in William S. Yellow Robe, Jr.'s "Thieves" at The Public Theater in 2009.
During her time in New York, Andrea actively contributed to the cultural landscape as a Cultural Development Fund Panelist for the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. In this role, she assessed numerous organizations' cultural services and facilitated the distribution of The Cultural Fund across multiple fiscal years, enhancing the fine arts community in the city.
Andrea’s academic background includes a Master of Music in Flute Performance from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from Pennsylvania State University. She was a Doc Tate Nevaquaya Scholar at the University of Oklahoma and received an American Indian Graduate Center Fellowship in 2004.
Now residing in Oklahoma with her husband and daughter, Andrea continues to devote her time and talent to creating new work and supporting her community. Her dedication to cultural and language preservation, coupled with her innovative artistic vision, has allowed her to play a significant role in the Native and broader artistic communities.
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