Kevin Red Star by Daniel Gibson and Kitty Leaken, Gibbs Smith Publishers, 192 pages, $62.
It's a long way from the Crow reservation in Montana to European art galleries but Kevin Red Star has made the journey. Growing up on the reservation, Red Star showed an aptitude for art that was noticed and with the recommendation of his junior year teacher he was accepted into the newly opened Institute of American Indian Arts.
As he followed his artistic education Red Star studied under various instructors in a number of different schools. It wasn't long before his paintings began to get a lot of attention and the unique blend of traditional native arts and the modern esthetic made for powerful images.
Authors Daniel Gibson and Kitty Leaken present a complementary account of Red Star's rise to one of the most successful Native American artists working today. The paintings speak for themselves and are well displayed throughout the entire book. Brilliant colours leap off the canvas while the subjects often stare silently outwards. Red Star's portraits vary dramatically in overall appearance but their eyes maintain a consistent presentation of a calmness and wisdom. While we don't get much insight into Red Star's technique, we do learn much about his motivation and connection to the Crow people.
