Jerry Brown and Tyson Hudson

00:02 Hello, this is Ty Hudson. And I will be the interview for the for today. My age is 37 and today's date is June 26th, 2014. And the location is Gallup, New Mexico.

00:15 My name is Jerry Brown and I'm 43. Today's date is 626 14 location is Gallup tow behind some people just changing the Canelo Channel 28, and I'm Jerry Brown and I'm from Mariano Lake, New Mexico.

00:36 It's okay. You answered some questions. But okay. So you're for Mariano Lake and what were you born in Crown Point in Crown Point? And you erase old hospital dies in hospital? Okay, and so you were born and raised from like 02 18 in Marietta. Okay, and so how would have growing up out there on the Navajo reservation in the Eastern Eastern part of the reservation, so

01:15 You know, what? Was it like growing up out there?

01:19 But I spend a lot of times with animals mostly sheep and dogs Rez dogs for and the background is based on my childhood all my painting. So so if you see in the background all texture, it's how I dealt with the day today live as I was growing up in Mariano lake. So did you grow up like in like, let's say your families are which side of your family's my mom's side. I heard mom and dad as well. Okay, and we'll have were you raised were you raised traditional traditional a my mom did your mom? Okay, and it where did you participate in any kind of Ceremonies? What would tell me stuff end?

02:20 The next seasonal stuff and then the den Shield shows how to prepare stuff and then this house done and I just sat back and went through it because I was too patient. So, okay and I and how does you know growing up out there? How did it go inside with your into making art? I like what was the origin of that?

02:45 I'm born with it.

02:49 3rd grade to 5th grade was at a boarding at a school day / boarding school. Dat Mariano lake, so they didn't really push that and I was just in a mostly playing in the sand and then I was like I said, it's been in time a lot of time sheep herding. So spending time with Justina seasonal stuff. Like I said, you know kid goats in a little lamb coming in and all that. So I got up and cheering and all that and then and then and then after that and

03:30 And so did your mom put me in a boarding school in Crown Point.

03:36 Sam oh so you went to the Bia boarding. I didn't know they had it that far back in the 70s. What was that experience? Like he was sitting out there a lot of fights and arguments, you know, just do you know, just how do you put you there? And then sometimes he'll get you like and

04:01 November December in August with between there you you you figure out how to live with everybody and just share stuff and can you have your moments but Tina you get over it. So at that time 30 years ago, were you allowed to speak another language like all the way around with whatever your religion or intense traditional or whatever this thing out just a day. So it wasn't as bad as it was like in after 4, but when we get in trouble they can A + B + C Wing but we did give us a tooth brushing out to clean the commodes and that your nose and all that and the ecology then then state.

04:51 Close everything up and then until you just, you know, take out your beds in a roll up all the carpets and then you mop everybody has to mop and it goes through damn wings and then take out all the beds and then roll them back.

05:10 Like I said with the carpet to start off with the carpets rolling back mop it and then sometimes we get to when the door mates or the staff leaves we get to play around with the waxer. So everybody gets a chance to sit on it and then let it go and just so you know if you write it like you ain't nobody's business so I can respond now.

05:36 And so

05:39 Is this where you started making art and boarding school or was that in? So then third and that through a side did finished up in eight there and didn't really didn't really click in. I knew I had it. I knew I had it. Do you know what a medium you started with? Just mostly my paternal grandparent gave me a coloring book. I never stayed in within the lines. I've me just my thought I would say that have fun. So I stopped to this day. I'm 43, and I'm still doing it. So I sit down with my daughter in.

06:23 Go at it so, okay. So, you know what the coloring book swear Juju we evolved from their did you do yesterday in and out and I knew I had something so I started doing like a outline of our people. They know that the facial party not have feathers ain't no facial to nose the eyes and the cheekbone and then I'll just hang out and just dance.

07:00 Today I can just look at it and then work at it again and just that was it the little bit here moments and they are so and then like I said date is it I went on

07:14 And then there was shady because

07:18 Wind it back to the boarding school years and Sundays Saturdays and Sundays. They would have like a missionary's or you know Baptist channel that the Christian people come by and you know, he doesn't the light comes on because at the end or beginning of the the service when they're doing is nailtique to give up snacks near cookies and Christina punching that I used to hop on it because of that saying I just needed to get away from everybody in and then

07:56 And then come back. So okay, then then get back into eight. Okay back into the yard life until 8 and then nice. I got shipped to the Mormons.

08:15 In between I'll go back and forth between 8th and 9th grade 8th grade. I lost a lot of people.

08:22 Anybody in particular my favorite on cold on my dad's side with mechanic. I've always watch and locked and what he did.

08:49 So like okay, let's just go back to your art. So you started drawing. Was there any like particular style? Were you influenced by anything at that time?

09:04 Not that I'm so

09:07 Play just started drawing like logos. Learn how to determine shade and all that song and that was it mostly.

09:25 So did you carry that with you like throughout High School? Like corn, you know? No, yes. Yes. Y'all can yeah, I mean, yeah, I used to paint and draw myself. I mean for me it was very therapeutic. Yes, so that kept me going through whatever drum I went through. But yeah, so I mean in high school like, where'd you go to high school?

09:56 High School from 38th and I'll go back to it the Lost Time.

10:07 My uncle and my grandma and another grandma that I always look up to.

10:17 I'm sorry to hear that. You know, I like lost all my three of my grandparents like, you know.

10:24 For your 3 years band, so but you know.

10:31 And so that the Mormons kind of guy got shipped to the Mormons and it was hard because it was a totally new balls filled to a ballgame out there by myself. There's there's other navajos out there, but it's not the same here and it was hard. So so.

10:56 What was so hard about yours?

11:00 Because I don't know who to talk to and it was different anal. I'm a humble person here in Wyatt. Everything. Everything is allowed Everything is Everything is awesome. Everything is available in them.

11:14 The Mortensen said West Jordan that I stayed with they have a lot of cats and then it said it was supposed to listen to do in my head. So it was hard.

11:30 Go and I dealt with my my pressure out there. It was in pretty.

11:38 So I came back on on a plane to ship my back on the plane. So.

11:43 And then and I was hoping her there at Albuquerque Airport.

11:52 Free cuz my mom and my sister were there so and

12:02 And after that and then I felt home and they did a lot of Ceremonies for me to get to where I was should be at and

12:12 And I hope things are starting to roll out and I can feel it. So tense. I

12:20 So

12:22 I got my my holy days and placed in brushed everything off in the help a lot and and watch who helped me. So.

12:34 And no.

12:43 Just mostly all my pack grounds today to Mumbai paintings.

12:51 Okay, so you okay, so you went through high school years?

12:59 So like did you get any you're an artist now? And did you get any formal training did you go to school for that? I'm I'm getting to it so okay. Yeah. Oh, no, that's okay. That's okay. Okay. Nice.

13:16 Night and I came back and my mom put me back in school till I visit this court didn't like it like it again. It was the same thing that I was facing and Jordan West and Utah.

13:35 NM

13:38 And I visit the boarding schools again. I don't have to take my friends from past experience. You know that same color in a yellow and The Pastels or the pastel yellow and pastel turquoise that I you know to break walls. And other than the floor tiles is like I didn't I didn't last 3 days and blankets so

14:08 Tonight

14:10 And I tried through I schooled and didn't work out too. So I spend too much time. Just walking back and forth in the locker room boys locker room, so

14:23 Are few friends there hang out there and try with them and all that so bad. That was it. And then I was three were driving by and there was a

14:32 Habit, there's asteroid standing outside and it's a sister.

14:41 Sister cat

14:43 Sister Michelle sister. Michelle was standing out there.

14:48 And it just felt right and so I was enrolled at Saint Bonaventure from 9:10 to 11 and 12 11 and 12. They gave me a

15:01 Surdyke I joined the boys home there because it was her home because home was robbed. So there was another story. So I stayed there 11 and 12. So and then the missionaries came by from everywhere to do surveys Sheena to teach us and then and they talk about their home life is either Nina West Middle Midwest or the East Coast or the you know from afar to cross the Crosslands Hotel Andes RI Catholic missionaries missionaries to your doctor, I guess to recruit them for two years Reno the artist or life. We know it depends. What are they like it out here in the niggest extender through teaching out here. So I do I'd I did Matt work a lot of teachers. It's it's it's

16:00 It it's ended made me who I am and part of what I do in the Outlook of it and a SOS Justin Michelle took me in school then she's just

16:15 Like how I am is took me in and then the planets Casey is my mentor in person that I looked away is German artist.

16:28 And he does abstract summer. What was the name again? Okay starting again every day you coming with a new medium and I just will just be fascinating. So how would you meet him?

16:51 Through the missionaries what influences me out to Santa Fe and we look at the old army barracks in Santa Fe next to Santa Fe College and there was an old army barracks in the debts were American art was renting so and then we walked around and Ramos swina. He was the recruit.

17:30 Person, so we talked with him and then

17:34 Are you accurate? I could just feel it and I'll just tell you I could grow over there. So.

17:41 And then we went and we were driving back from Santa Fe and said that I'm moving back to Vermont and then that's like I was like what's going to happen. And them and so did I was accepted to the following Summer by opener? So he showed me two weeks of what he does. Turn out to be for your program.

18:17 Okay, and if so, like after you're done finished with high school, so you moved out to Santa Fe today at 10. Yes. What's it called in to do the American and arts in a lot of of pretty famous Native American tourists come to come out of there and that says so what was it like At first she know just getting to know people again and just that same face again, but in a bigger butt with a bigger bigger version of it than any gun, you have people, you know from the planes coming in and they there in a bit to think that really opened my eyes was protest.

19:00 And I and I'm here quiet in spending time with my animals had my gun go out there and it's loud and it's aggressive and this you DDT have all this and it's and I stood back and let it

19:15 I said to myself. Why are these people so mad?

19:20 That woman took that that moment I realized that I'm not alone till and

19:29 Enough to this day that that still goes on and then it's a shocks me now.

19:37 Consist just having a moment and then it just as they are. Didn't that's reality now. I am 43 so

19:49 So, you know you're so what's me know what you find over there. And so the first year in the second year was a little rough sick of you guys starting to get comfortable 30-year. Now, you got to get drawing class in a 1 2 3 drawing class together and adamy drawing and see God and painting it hard to get the paint out of your pain. So I did.

20:25 And then I went through a lot of professors take did just now passing through and did you throw up during your time and all that stuff in the one that really stuck was Dwayne slick. Is it? Okay if you were with Dewayne slick is from Meskwaki Nation me up and Meskwaki and he'd be liked I liked what he did. It was nidus canvas was all textures and layers and layers of

21:01 Every meeting there is on the surface. There is just one big spot just be cool layers. So white to white Peace funeral whites and cannabis assist and I keep looking at him and I was like, I was just it just the day by day. I realize

21:27 What is painting is Sino daily life Sino de layers.

21:34 That's my view, but he never told me that you know.

21:39 Which institution American and originality do you have an Asian Alaskan a Dental Arts in reaction? And we spend too much time at hallway Shannon on a midnight in a drawing or covered in chocolate and they have a group of people in on to go into studio and start working at Staffing and ongoing stuffy nose on a butcher paper on news news prep Piano Man. The thing about that is I never bought stuff from the store. It was all found in a dumpster whatever I could find I could look at it and then flip it over and see if too much texture or see how I can work this out. It was it was fun.

22:25 And I'm painting one started to like I said to draw and and add me and was like charcoal how to how to hold it. You know how not to be chance with your rare skin and at this how you standing on me how you move and then I became a dancer volume back into 10th grade. I became a dancer I get initiated. So it was it was a bridge for me to communicate with the other side. So and so with the movement on the body it was it was it was freely, you know, it was it wasn't answering anything was just and then it was it was fun. I loved it. I loved it. Then my four years are there.

23:23 We should 2 year program, but I just do think he while I want to get into the independent study. You know, I'm painting that's where I was heading to so.

23:33 And I found object seen him a tan. Medina was a figure drawing sheep push to push it push push hard Maze and stuff out Chewbacca Mom at Sixteen. Linda may have to walk me at 3 to coffee and they pushed their bunch of fake leaves today that died today would dearly and every other respect for them so I know

24:11 And so the winds lyrics the really push did that one time.

24:17 Rolled out shopping cart full of stuff and say they make sure ain't no is it doesn't go and doesn't mix with oil painting Center.

24:31 Well damn score acrylic. Because of the dryer will take me years years and somebody will be wet forever. And so and I start I start making myself with newsprint in a butcher paper. They were roles it was available to us. So that was that was that was nice. I know it was a dollar paint brushes onto horsehair him a cheap. I never used expensive paint brushes never did I step this day. I still use the post paper Russia's $0.89 paint brushes for thick but then I'll figure out a way to a conflicting and then I'll control it when it came to a palette knife as a, you know, so, you know modeling Paces like what is like doing drywall anyone's like baking a cake with icing on the cake.

25:31 You can do a lot of stuff over look at this a door knob and hinges screws and just throw them in there and make their own interests. Are you excited exploded down and whatever I could find its Road in there when it came to me for a second third painting on h i Taylor they learned just how did you get to a point to where you ask yourself? You know, you're going to be in landscape artists who you going to be bored doing portraits fan with all that stuff is I would all over but my main base was just too mixed media artists make texture to get a to-do list.

26:22 I do is fun you interact with people and they kind of have a race with your friends. You never hear your roommate and all that. So I was just

26:35 It's fascinating and

26:41 Play teen years went back. And then we take out a new campus and Community College in Santa Fe. Got a new cat piss out there and beautiful turn in the 40 and I do have during Media Center. Do you know fully blowing in and they adding more? I think it's the theater sold this year or last year so dated dedicated. So it's like all my heroes went to Aiea. So I was like, yeah native magazine Cheetah Girls over answer damn. She knows it's just they're everywhere and I'm very blessed to be part of that big big circle with them. So

27:29 Then

27:31 I like taking challenges here and then

27:38 I have I wanted to do to trunk of an elephant and the roughness of their skin and all that. I did it. That was my first time doing that back into the detail and all that stuff and hummingbirds. And you know, why life I did lie to spend a lot of time on a sucker for a College Santa Fe library with me not to sit and downgrade grab a book off the shelf and mostly wildlife and just how did you defer in with at the Holiday Inn?

28:19 Today we lay on one side and a mink order was my my first two subject that I took a shot at 9 and I still have those. I still have those in the in pants.

28:37 Boston do horses or that that that was a challenge for me, but I did hey, I still have those two and

28:49 Lyrics it's amazing. It's just how you come across just in a blank paper answers and then go at it and then things will start to come alive. And I and it's it's it's

29:07 I thought it's amazing how to do for my view. It's it's not done but it has to be done because at this and you have to remind yourself it's done Tina, there's layers and I do a lot of layers in it the first Larry on second third 14 1/4 is it's fun to and then you start pulling stuff out of the background.

29:32 And and then and that's how I do my background how I grew up and how I struggle with Teton like again and dumping trash dumpsters and pulling out stuff in Turrentine turn in turn it to something that people would appreciate and then that's that's the amazing thing about it. It's been in one minute at a person looking at your pee smells like you wore it move on so

30:07 Okay, I am so now you graduated from 91 to 95 and a 95. Okay, and so

30:22 You know, what? Did you start? You know from? I don't know what sort of subject matter. Did you go with the representational art abstract abstract abstract when I came back and just stuff everything and storage and shade and then on with the traditional ceremonies and I had my stuff in the whole gun that you have to shift stuff. I latini we keep praying to get wind and all that Dusty and I did another longer project that I did. I found a carpet flip it over start painting and and dad that I roll it up when I move back to the house. I threw it out and wood chips. I watched it split in half and went back to test amazing thing about it. The other thing was

31:16 Plywood And MDF so and then I still have a piece of that plywood left. So that's the only one that survived and the other one was class.

31:33 And and also shifting back and stuff in and out of the hook on a soundbar got damaged water damage, but I might still have all my stuff in a big folder. So I made them stuff that I did.

31:52 Indian ceremonies at the ceremonies and all that so and dancing they went on the poetry also dance with me make a lot of friends and it was fascinating and in 95, we lost our house. It was a burned-out some of my pieces were burned.

32:15 But all my my my my painting stuff around the other side, so I didn't got damaged. My my some of my feathers were talking. I was just I know it's annoying that that was that was an eye-opener for me looking back and say

32:34 It all got enslaved.

32:39 Okay.

32:43 When that happened did you an arm thing you can do is just move forward. I guess you can't even think about it if you buy a souvenir and bring it back to the house.

33:00 Growing up or any of that you travel throughout the states and you bring it back and you bring it in the house and you'll ever get that back stuff that you did stuff Daddy. No photos hanging out cystic.

33:23 It was a tard up to this day. I still like well.

33:30 So and then no and then nephews and nieces came came in and out. They were small and summer like one and baby Chanel that.

33:44 Show me my whole family raise them.

33:48 Child 2000-2008 years

33:56 Helped raise nephew and nieces never did art.

34:03 Okay, so why you no like me recently did a show over at our library November and I saw a lot of representational stuffed animals are looking back in November because I've noticed that there was no like, you know, usually with Native American artist that usually show like, I don't know like, you know our deities like for the navajos and stuff or they show like, I don't know sometimes they should like the traditional stuff and I was wondering why your heart doesn't have any of that in your work or how come is there a reason behind that?

34:59 When I came back on a plane and saw my mom and sister standing there.

35:31 From that point to get back into balance.

35:54 I think that's the hard part.

36:03 There are

36:06 People in the right moment to do

36:14 Gather up herbs

36:17 He or she have person that committed some and we'll do that.

36:23 To get you back.

36:33 To Humble stage 2 where you could run hit the quad season 2

36:40 Enjoy life and

36:46 That's the reason why.

36:50 My trips with Becca and Portland

37:31 That's the hard part.

37:36 I'm sure people have kids make a living but

37:41 Just had to do that.

37:44 One of the Traders set with

37:47 What you mean by this?

37:51 What do you mean you're not selling in the dark and all that stuff recycling?

37:56 I don't know for my Personal Collection I can give you.

38:03 I've medicine bundle of painting and all that stuff today do I can give you that they will be yours cuz I gave it to you.

38:24 But to sell it I can't.

38:27 And it's and he was just shocked.

38:35 I know his shop is says appointment by only. I always walked by and was blocked by one and knock on the door at one time the door was open and waiting.

38:49 Look at this.

38:54 And they're all have price tags on it.

38:59 And The Mask there was no mask. I think they were all the debasement and doTERRA dictated hided.

39:09 After I have spoken I was nine years ago. This is going to be the 10th year. I did Bunheads. I just shot myself in the foot by Justina stick in my my whole being stick up for people that don't say that and that

39:27 Bad

39:28 But the stuff that I went through and how I flirt.

39:34 Not for sale.

39:37 And some like I said, you know people make you live and they were mad at me about the state they still are but do you know another way to make a living song?

39:52 But selling it hard to see that but Hannah that's just that's just my view now I teach that to my daughter so and that's how I know. It's not I don't do that my collection. Yes, I will do with them, but then I'm not going to

40:13 Salad, okay, and so like some of these pics they ended up at the Washington library metal. So how did that come about Cory morning to do well to this city of Caleb a different side of

40:40 It's not like in your face is the silent racism and it's it's it's

40:48 Box me locked in and it just it just

40:55 They don't they don't they don't speak the words. He just did his run with it.

41:00 Stuff like pawn stuff, you know, like lonely. I was just, you know, just a vehicle to dealership Searcy silent racism and it's it's it's at that bugs me a lot.

41:20 And Corey came in sitting room and said you were going to be the token token of my library is she don't put you out there. So that's how it came about and that tourism of Gallup is all non-native.

41:38 And there's no hot and some.

41:42 Types, I've seen fewer run by natives, but they didn't last and I don't know why daddy is so and so I'm right they still have it and which I'm very proud of that.

41:57 And that's it.

41:59 And then so I I I did a show here.

42:04 To tell him you like him. I'm here and I mean I'm back. So yeah, like I said nine years ago. I shot myself in the foot by saying that hear that it's due to the thing that triggered me is that when we moved back from Minnesota to New Mexico that first show here. I died. I did I threw in my painting and ceremonial it was in the dark.

42:34 It was no lift barely lit.

42:38 Let it it. It it it made me mad. I said you done it with.

42:44 I'm silversmiths textile sculptures. I said why not in painting?

42:50 Up to this day in are they still question that abstract and it's like you're you crazy. I don't know. I don't know what their view is.

43:01 I still fight that and that's one point. They gave me premium number it took it back. They shut me up next year. They gave me first. I don't know what that is.

43:12 The first and second third and fourth year was run by the all the traitors they backed off now, it's run by the state of New Mexico and the casino the fire fire Rock Casino. What is this?

43:29 So that I butt heads with people my people and they are and some other so but it's okay. That's made me who I am.

43:40 Go back to the show here. So we did the show. I'm very proud and I got to go again. Somehow I end up at.

43:51 Traditional henna

43:54 Level now so slowly getting there. I was joking with my fellow artists cross and I made it go Trail.

44:07 It was it was I just point it was a trail that I said I did and then I made it trailed.

44:14 And that then and soon-to-be gravel. They said

44:19 And it be paved not now putting up signs now it's where it's at. So

44:28 And you just mentioned you were living in Minnesota. So we met through St. Bonaventure. My brother pulled me in for an art teacher. So I did our teacher in know before that. Okay back to my nieces and nephew. I helped him. So they won't they were all at Saint Bonaventure and I keep seeing this voice and this person walk thing for it to Athena.

45:07 Artist

45:10 That was it.

45:12 And I kept I kept looking looking all that stuff. So.

45:17 And it was everything that she did was old on Nina keep everything moving moving moving to get it done and get it on and I wish you notice as well.

45:28 She draws.

45:33 She helped put up a librarian library at st. Bonaventure. Put it in shape and have it running so smoothly and all that so.

45:44 And then took my brother put me in for an art teacher. So I didn't I started teaching and then

45:52 And they were

45:56 They're they're doing all their library and work and they know stuff. That's how we got to know each other and they looked at each other and one one time and

46:11 Bluewater and look look up through the pine trees.

46:18 Give it a run. So here we are. We have a 6 year old girl. So Mary Helen Grace, Brownsville.

46:29 Clean out there. Yes, and she likes everything bugs to painting to reading and traditional stuff, you know get and groove in out there to Martin and all that stuff. So yes, yes, and we're probably getting ready to X running out. And what is there anything else you would like to add ice interview? There's more about the answers to this is the main core of my my hard life. So and thank you. Okay. Thank you for listening and

47:09 I'll see you down the road. I'll write more. I think that does it for us. Thanks.