Ofuskie a.k.a. George Alexander II: Painter / Soon-to-be-Curator

Sagewolf Interviews

@ofuskie
ofuskie.com
linktr.ee/ofuskie
Upcoming shows!
May 28 - Native Treasures Show in Santa Fe
July 1 - Farrell Fischoff Gallery in Santa Fe
End of August - Indian Art Market
Secret upcoming shows in December 2022 and January 2023
The scene:
We are in the Alexander Contemporary studio in downtown Santa Fe where Ofuskie operates - as of 3 days ago. This is his dream studio and it has all just fallen into place perfectly. He is expertly situated downtown near the Santa Fe Plaza. When I walked in, he was on the phone sourcing furniture for this new studio gallery. He is curating this environment and his life in the shape of his dreams. Join us in the new studio for a lively conversation on coming up and learning how to promote yourself in the art world.
Highlights:
+ From the Muscogee Creek Tribe
+ Began canvas painting at the Institute of American Indian Arts
+ Origin: Tulsa Oklahoma
+ $500 buys a lot of 30 packs of beer (when you’re living in a dorm)
+ Don’t ask him for a tattoo - he’s retired :)
+ Mentored by artist Tony Abeyta tonyabeyta.com @alpha_beta_tone
+ Massive upcoming shows - top secret - follow Ofuskie to know where to be
+ Galleries treating artists fairly, carefully signing agreements
+ Doing business with galleries outside of New Mexico and Oklahoma
+ Helping other artists keep more of their $
+ Typical artist/gallery split is 50/50
+ Alexander Contemporary split will be 60/40
+ Reinvesting profits back into the artist, big show promotion
+ Curation is an art form in and of itself
+ “We all are worthy to our own slice of pie”
+ Being a native artist, living where you can get the most legs up
+ Being part of an artist community that won’t let you fail
+ Artists rising together - helping each other up
+ Being raised by 5 sisters
+ When people tell you you will succeed, you do
+ The 8 billion/4 million/3 thousand/3 hundred/1 hand Rule
+ Life opportunities are everywhere if you stay open to them
+ Seeing things as they are - not good or bad
+ Not bringing the past or future into the present
+ No one else knows the shoes you walk in
+ Being your own worst self-critique
+ Artists are given gifts so that they may share them with others
+ Astronauts are a metaphor for humanity
+ “I will never paint another dead Indian”
+ Strategizing financial resources
+ Good friends babysit you on shrooms
+ Thank you Erin Currier @erincurrierfineart for connecting us :)
+ Shoutout to Ofuskie’s girlfriend Sheyenne @sheyenne.sky
+ Shoutout to Ofuskie’s friend Wes @shooting4balance
+ We become powerful through the help of our community
+ I would never recognize my younger self
A taste:
“The main mission of the [Alexander Contemporary] gallery is to be artist-led. I want artists to have fair treatment within the gallery business. My galleries have always treated me great, but […] one of my friends ended up signing a contract where if he sells anything in the state of New Mexico, he has to give 50% to the gallery, even if the gallery isn’t involved at all.”
Favorite saying:
“Life is a rollercoaster and there’s only one d

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Love, Sagewolf xoxo