Talon Cavender-Wilson

2023 Early-Career Research + Development Grantee | $2,500

Evolution of Dakota Tradition

The purpose of this project is to find a way, using modern science, to uphold traditional Dakota storytelling practices within modern sculpture. According to tradition, folklore is only to be told when there is snow on the ground—when it was too cold to be outside, that is when the stories and legends would begin. As a sculpture artist with a passion for traditional folklore, how does one keep to this tradition? This project will attempt to find a way to create outdoor information panels that are temperature and moisture sensitive so that stories will be kept to the winter, showing the title of the piece year round but only revealing more information while there is snow on the ground.

Talon Cavender-Wilson is a Dakota man from The Upper Sioux Reservation in Southwest Minnesota, who had the privilege of studying traditional Scandinavian woodworking and blacksmithing. He walked away from that with a journeyman’s certificate in blacksmithing. Being Dakota and having a non Dakota medium, the aim of Talon’s art is to take up the discussions of cultural evolution and the difference between Dakota art and being a Dakota artist. While these topics are incredibly sensitive and he is far from an expert, Talon sees these subjects as important. Hi goal is to do what he can to take up and add whatever tools he can to these discussions for Dakota and Indigenous people to have.

Forecast has been offering early-career artist grants supported by Jerome Foundation since 1989. In addition to funding, Forecast is dedicated to providing professional development and learning opportunities designed to assist emerging artists as they experiment/ hone their practices, and cultivate careers in the field. Forecast mid- and early-career grants are designed to support independent projects, leadership development, professional development, risk-taking, multidisciplinary approaches, and collaborative problem-solving in the field of public art.