This past spring I had the opportunity to attend the Carolina Indian Circle Powwow (CIC Powwow). I feel lucky to have been able to experience this cultural affair that hosted dancers from all along the East Coast.

One of the dances that was performed, The Red Dress Special, moved me very much. I learned it was about the issue of missing or murdered indigenous women, most of which whose crimes have gone unsolved.

When painting this piece, I kept in my mind my own experience with such traumatizing issues and a small prayer for those who have been lost. 

To learn more about this issue and the artist, Jaime Black, who has taken this social issue on in in her work, visit: The REDress Project.