In recent years, we've seen examples of artists being commissioned to create public art that honors Native culture. For instance, a mural was unveiled in Buchanan, Michigan, created by artist Justin Johnson, a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. This mural draws from the Woodland or "Legend Painting" style, a powerful visual tradition of the First Nations, marking Johnson's first public mural installation. Such a project exemplifies a best practice: when a community wants to install art that reflects Native American heritage, they commission a member of that heritage to create it. If Hoby Buchanon were an artist, his "Native American install" might take this form—a genuine collaborative effort rooted in cultural respect.
Incorporating large-scale weaving patterns, beadwork motifs, or pottery geometry honors generational knowledge. hoby buchanon native american install