We’re revisiting some of our favorite stories of the year. This one was originally published July 20.
I picked this one because I appreciate all the individual and groups of artists I have gotten the opportunity to talk to, but I think it is especially important to highlight Indigenous culture, history, and life given that our dominant culture is strategically designed to ignore, erase, or destroy those precious things, and Terri is a wonderful woman playing her part in fighting that.
— Isaac Trussoni
Wisconsin is no stranger to the presence of deep, yet often under-discussed Native American history that ties in so closely with the state. While much of the visual representation of Native history is most immediately seen in the geography of Wisconsin, many artists are pushing for more visibility and vocality around Native history and culture through their own creations.
Terri O’Connor is one such local artist. While Terri now lives in Poynette, Wisconsin, she has been around the Madison area since her early 20s. O’Connor’s passion for art started long before she found her way to Madison as art was second nature at home.
“I started my art way back when I was young,” O’Connor told Madison365. “I just always dabbled in the art scene a bit, slowly working with the tribe on quite a few little projects that they had. My dad was an artist, so he had paintings that he had done in the house like some horses, I remember. I also had my mom’s brother who was an artist, so he did a lot of beautiful artwork, too, as a painter, as well. I saw that and was always interested in art.”
O’Connor grew up surrounded not just by art, but by Native American art and culture specifically…