Artwork copyright Hachivi Edgar Heap of Birds. Photo courtesy of the artist, 1986.

Radon for Red Hair, 1979

Hachivi Edgar Heap of Birds
(American | Cheyenne | Arapaho, born 1954)

Location: Western Washington University, Bellingham

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Radon for Red Hair is a powerful conceptual artwork created by Edgar Heap of Birds. The red cotton shirt references traditional ceremonial dress shirts. The word "Radon" is painted repeatedly onto the shirt and refers to a chemical which has historically caused lung cancer among many Native American uranium miners.

The artist is a Headsman of the Tsistsistas (Cheyenne) elk clan, and considers himself a warrior/protector of the tribe. he notes, "the weapons that we must use to fight for survival today are found in art and modern forms of communication..."

This artwork is part of Beyond Blue Mountains, a collection that was curated by late Tlingit (Native Alaskan) artist Jim Schoppert. It presents the work of Native American artists of diverse heritage, ideas, materials, and styles. The collection takes an in-depth look at the artists’ unique voices and interpretations of tradition.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Department of Corrections.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Native American artist Edgar Heap of Birds (Cheyenne and Arapaho) creates conceptual artworks that explore Indigenous identity and experience. He is an advocate for Indigenous communities worldwide, focusing on social justice and personal freedom. His artworks include drawings, paintings, prints, works in glass, and sculptures.

Heap of Birds is Professor Emeritus in the Native American Studies Department at the University of Oklahoma. His seminars explored contemporary Native American art issues within the visual arts, film, and museums on local, national, and international levels.

Born in Wichita, Kansas, Heap of Birds is of Cheyenne and Arapaho heritage. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Kansas in Lawrence and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. He pursued further graduate studies in painting at the Royal College of Art in London, England. Heap of Birds' artworks are in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), NYC; Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC; Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC; British Museum, London, England; and many more.