“Res Basel” is the title of the latest show at Walter N. Marks Center for the Arts. The art venue at College of The Desert (Palm Desert CA) is fast becoming one of the best places to see new works by emerging fine artists in the West Coast region. Res Basel is an overview and showcase of some of the most important current work from Native, Chicano, Latinx and street artists who blur lines between the fine art world and the street art world(s).
These artists are all entrenched in their communities, and their works signifies how important culture and sub-culture has become in creating cultural shifts. Curated by artist Douglas Miles Sr.
https://www.instagram.com/dmiles1_apache/
The Res Basel show is an exhibition / commentary on how cultural elitism in the art world often silences artists by avoiding, or refusing to show artists of color within the fine art industrial complex world of galleries, museums, online and print media. Thus, the need for shows like Res Basel is expeditionary. In addition to an overview and survey of these artists. Res Basel is also one of the first times artists from the East Coast and West Coast are showing together, in conversation with one another. Res Basel features photography, digital art, installations, paintings and mixed media new works by
Shizu Saldamando, Keo Xmen, Mike Miller, Douglas Miles Jr., Al Diáz, Sienide, Thomas BREEZE Marcus, Rebekah Miles, Indie 184, Deity, Carlos Ramirez, Vyal One, Dwayne Manuel, Douglas Miles Sr.
Douglas Miles Sr. BIO
San Carlos Apache-Akimel O’odham artist Douglas Miles artistic work is rooted in Apache history and deeply engaged with the world of contemporary pop culture. Douglas Miles (b. 1963) is a multi-faceted artist working as a designer, filmmaker, muralist and photographer who blends Native history with political resistance.
Miles developed and founded Apache Skateboards in 2002, a brand combining art and
skateboarding designed to support the athleticism of creativity of skateboarding for
youth. Inspired by Douglas Miles Jr., since its inception, Apache has expanded to
include the arts, education, political awareness and empowerment by connecting skateboard
culture with contemporary Native life.
Miles enjoys collaboration and has worked with actor and author Ethan Hawke on a New
York Times bestseller graphic novel, Indeh: A Story of the Apache Wars. He’s also
collaborated with Etnies, Volcom, Verizon, The Phoenix Suns, The Arizona Coyotes,
Red Bull, Smartwater, KIA USA, NBC/ The Today Show and his skateboards and clothing
are featured in Zumiez stores across the country.
Miles’ work has been exhibited at Princeton, Columbia University; Eiteljorg Museum,
the Peabody Essex Museum; Salem, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History; and the
Institute of American Indian Arts Museum in Santa Fe (2004) . In 2017 he was a resident
artist at the San Francisco De Young Museum. His skateboard installation “You’re Skating
On Native Land” has been show at the Phoenix Art Museum and the Denver Art Museum.
He fine art is represented by Turner Carroll Gallery Santa Fe and his photography
is represented by Obscura Gallery Santa Fe.