Title: Mshike Kowabtan (Turtle Guardian)

Artist: Monica Rickert-Bolter

Tribal Affiliation: Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation

Year Completed: 2022

Medium: Pastels, Acrylic, and Photoshop, Custom print on metal sheeting with frame

Dimensions (HxWxD): 32" x 20" x 3/4"

Description/Inspiration:

This work encompasses multiple Indigenous perspectives while still having distinct and recognizable characteristics that culminate into a relatable and innovative turtle design. The translucent circular designs mimic rotating gears while incorporating sustainable imagery with intangible themes that coincide with sovereignty. The piece combines hand-drawn dry pastels on black paper with digital graphics and vectorized circular patterns that acknowledge Native peoples from around Turtle Island (North America Continent), Native Hawaiians, and Samoans. The title derives from the Potawatomi language, while the vibrant background pays homage to Anishinaabe sun and moon patterns.

Limited edition custom print.

Artist Bio/Statement:

Monica Rickert-Bolter is a Chicago-based visual artist and journalist of Potawatomi, Black, and German descent. Her artwork consists of traditional mediums, such as charcoals and pastels, graphic design, and digital coloring to create expressive characters and tell their diverse stories. After receiving her undergrad in Media Arts and Animation, Monica became more involved with Native nonprofits, where she combined her love of art and education to develop programs and resources for children. She worked with Chicago Public Schools to create a new interdisciplinary Latino and Latin American Studies curriculum incorporating Indigenous history and contributions. Passionate about storytelling through art and writing, she advocates for cultural representation in any project she undertakes and serves as a consultant for various institutions and organizations, like The Field Museum and the Terra Foundation for American Art. Monica writes under the pen name "Whitepigeon," her family name, for online publications related to Native issues, creatives in the entertainment industry, and Indigenous-owned businesses. In 2020, she completed two children's books as an illustrator and layout designer, Journey of the Freckled Indian by Alyssa London and J.W. The Deaf Drummer by Myles Hunt. The following year, Monica co-founded the Center for Native Futures, a nonprofit for Natives in the arts, with a fellow artist group to nurture, elevate, and advocate for Indigenous Futurists. Monica has multiple installations in the "Native Truths" permanent exhibition at the Field Museum and is part of the "Ancestors Know Who We Are" online exhibition at the National Museum of the American Indian.

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