Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

I had a chance to sit down with Akwesasne artist Kerdy Mitcho this week, and I talked with him about his art, both the paintings and a bit about his music, and about his motivations for much of his efforts to help out in our community. Some of Mitcho’s good work is with a food pantry or donating his work to support the Akwesasne Freedom School.

First I asked what he felt were his influences? Mitcho said, “My influences? I’ve got a list of about a hundred people, you know what I mean? I sat down at my raffle ‘cause it was slow, and said OK, thanks to this guy, this person, this– By time I was done with my list, I had over a hundred people on there. It all really comes down from the people who are here, who are the artists. They are my inspiration, they are doing it too.”

Mitcho showed me many of the recent pieces he has finished. In nearly all but the most recent, Mitcho wanted to showcase the colors purple and white, to show his respect and love for our people, the Haudenosaunee. Mitcho has a lengthy explanation that I wouldn’t dream of trying to summarize, as I wouldn’t want to take any of the meaning away. Check out http://fineartamerica.com/pressreleases/karihwanoron.html

To describe his motivations Mitcho said, “I like to help people. If I can help people by showing my artwork and inspiring other people to do their artwork–I’ve already had people that have taken some of my designs and made their own stuff–I have had that happen already. I’m not upset about it, it’s really a compliment to say, “Hey, I really like that so I’m going to do that too.”

Continuing on Mitcho said, “It is not just painting either, it’s the basket makers, the quilt makers, bead workers, leather workers, the gardeners–the people who have the necessary skills, skills that actually apply to something.” At this point in the interview Mitcho expressed how fond he is of barter and shows some of the things he was able to trade his work for, like canvases and an electric bass.

The bass he plays for his band 14 Knuckles Deep. He does some videography and streams their practices live on his blog.

Mitcho explains that he lives by quite modest means, but when people come by wanting him to contribute to various community fundraisers he is right there willing to contribute, “I still contribute, I still do my part,” he says.

IETHINISTENHA IONKIATAHONWE

Mitcho mentioned another project is to start an arts council which he explains like this: “So we get people who are saying “oh, I got this project but I got so many projects too, and I got this idea and everyone works together. You don’t have to be a fine artist to make a good floor and you don’t have to be a good carpenter to plant a garden. There are all kinds of people who want to do things to help each other out. So I figure I would use an arts council whether it be landscaping, or culinary arts–.” At this point a visitor interrupted us, but the gist is that he wishes to assemble a group of people with complementary skills who can help each other accomplish projects, and see to it that projects grow and see fruition, so that we all benefit together.

Of the time I spent with Mitcho, this is what stuck out the most: Here is someone who has the community in his heart when he sets out do something–it reflects in his artwork, it reflects in his deeds, and in the way he lives–and its evident this will continue and is not just for show. I don’t find I meet enough genuinely altruistic people in my day-to-day travels, and it was refreshing and inspiring to meet one. I wish Kerdy Mitcho much success, and I hope the community can get behind him and support this talented artist as well!