Artist Nicholas Galanin on How Art Has Changed Him
By Britt Stigler
June 29, 2023
Tlingit and Unangax̂ multidisciplinary artist Nicholas Galanin solders meaning with a material used to divide in his public art installation “In every language there is Land / En cada lengua hay una Tierra.” On view in Brooklyn Bridge Park through March 10, 2024, the 30-foot work references Robert Indiana’s famous “LOVE” sculpture, echoing the text-based form to spell out “LAND.”
Towering in scale, Galanin’s letters are fashioned from the same steel tubing fabricated to build the U.S.-Mexico border wall and are layered in such a way that allows people, light and air to pass within and through the structure. The result is a meditative critique on oppressive systems, such as colonialism and borders.
To mark the opening of the work, presented by Public Art Fund, ALL ARTS corresponded with Galanin, a member of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, about how art has changed him. His response, shared below, is gathered as part of the ALL ARTS series “How Art Changed Me,” which explores the impact of the arts on individuals.
Nicholas Galanin on How Art Changed Him
Art has been all in my life, from new possibilities to time machines and guides. Its omnipresence has taken me across the globe, opening the mind and heart to connection and community. Through these journeys, I’ve experienced the past, present and future, bridging more than time, and connecting dots between then and now. Each creative work, an opportunity, a storyteller, a memory, a dream, a truth or a possibility.
I have learned the power of imagination and action. Art has been my profound mentor, sharing connections in continuum, teaching lessons connected to land. It has exposed me to the multifaceted human existence, the importance and power of creative sovereignty.
From it, I have learned to cherish presence, its intricate beauty and balance. It has made me more compassionate and receptive, reshaping more than material as it changes perspective and life. I have found a potent voice in art, a force against erasure by dominant narratives and oppressive systems. In a world that often seeks to silence and homogenize or “other” us.
Art has been my connected lifeline, a platform to express and assert sovereignty, to resist and challenge the status quo. It has given form to thoughts, feelings and beliefs, narrating stories in ways words alone can not.
Art has been foundational to me, not just to a specific physical location but to a sense of belongingness that transcends geographical boundaries. It has forged profound connections between I and the place, imprinting all into my heart and memory. Each adze swing or chisel mark has reflected the spirit of place, history, struggle and triumph to the metronome of the human heartbeat.
More importantly, art has intertwined me with global communities, uniting us through shared making experiences. It has fostered a sense of solidarity, an understanding that though we may differ in language, religion or tradition, we are bound by common threads of human experience, emotion and understanding. Art has been a bridge, facilitating meaningful dialogues and building better futures.
In essence, art transforms the world, erasing fabricated borders, stretching horizons, enriching perspectives and revealing spirit. It has been a journey, a teacher, a voice and a community, always leaving an indelible impact on life. Art is rhythm and dance, song and memory.
Art has not changed me, it has made me.
– Nicholas Galanin