The Pendleton Blanket 2019

Terri Kelly Moyers created this painting using traditional art materials of canvas and paint. The materiality of this work reveals the ways in which paintings can represent a complex history of the American West. Notice how the blanket dominates the composition, a potent symbol of trade, cultural exchange, and also, cultural appropriation. The so-called "Pendleton blanket," while inspired by Native American designs, was mass-produced in factories. Moyers' choice to depict a young Indigenous woman wrapped in one of these blankets invites us to consider the complex relationship between identity, commercialism, and cultural heritage. The artist prompts us to reflect on the labor involved in both the blanket's original production and the ongoing work of preserving cultural identity in the face of outside influence. Ultimately, this painting reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images can be rich with social and political meaning. It challenges us to look beyond the surface and consider the complex stories that objects can tell.