Durango based artist, Maddie Sanders (Mvskoke & Mojave), has been honing her skills in murals and graphic design for the past several years. Sanders grew up in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and comes from a long line of artists. She studied at Fort Lewis College where she received her Bachelors of Art in Communication Design in 2021. Over the years, she has practiced various art forms but has become known for her large-scale murals featuring bright colors and Indigenous culture. Sanders’ brush strokes have adorned walls across Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, and California. Sanders has has also been highly immersed in the modeling world since 2018 and has been in various fashion shows and photoshoots across the country. Though Maddie is best known for her murals, her diverse practice also encompasses public installations, curation, and jewelry-making. Her work has been exhibited in various museums in the United States and Europe.
Maddie's contributions to uplifting her community have not gone unnoticed. She avidly pursues opportunities that can help her and the life of future generations and continuously focuses on the revitalization and renewal of Indigenous arts.
"Through my artwork, I am able to express myself and connect to my roots. I hope to inspire others and encourage them to see the importance of preserving culture through art."
To see more of Maddie's work:
Small Business: wotko-moon.com
Instagram: @wotko.moon & @holatte
FB: @wotko.moon.llc
RECENT ACTIVITY
Durango Creates Recipient (2023)
Selected as a lead artist for this project, Maddie has created a community based mural for the local soup kitchen in collaboration with The Walls Project. Through this grant Maddie will guide volunteers through the process of creating the mural, making it a collaborative effort. The project aims to engage volunteers of all ages in the painting process, promoting community involvement and ownership of the artwork. The Manna Soup Kitchen Mural Project creates a lasting and meaningful artwork that represents the community's spirit of generosity, compassion, and unity. Through the involvement of volunteers and the collaboration between different community stakeholders, the project promotes community and a sense of pride of accomplishment for all those involved.
There Is More To It Than Beads and Feathers (2023)
(The Land and the Unfolded Map exhibit - Le Delta Brussels, Belgium - Video color, sound 9 min 44 sec)
The tutorial has become an effective weapon to evade censure on social networks. Used by oppressed groups as a digital Trojan horse, the most anodyne video thus turns into the ideal vehicle to convey a message of resistance, safe from the prying eyes of government robots. The northern cardinal is a common bird on the American continent. For Native Americans it symbolizes the ancestors who went before them; they use its glowing plumage as a decorative design in a spirituality as timeless as the creation of humanity. The soft voice of Hope Craig-Corlew offers to initiate us into making a pair of earrings with a cardinal design. Step by step the instructional images follow one another; word by word, the narration calmly diverges from its initial subject to tell another story, still relevant: the chilling history of oppression.
Colorado Art Science Environment Fellow (2023)
CASE Fellows are artists from all corners of Colorado and CU Boulder scientists who will work in teams to produce artworks that will be exhibited at the Colorado State Capitol as part of the Colorado Creative Industries Creative Capital program, May-September 2023. The exhibition, tentatively titled Coloradans and Our Shared Environment in Times of Challenge and Change, will tell the story of how Coloradans are experiencing interrelated challenges of fire, drought, and water and air quality in their communities. The CASE Fellows aim to build a sense of connection around Colorado environmental issues by co-ideating artwork with input from communities.
Durango Lodger's Tax: Arts and Culture Funding (2022)
This funding project is a historic move for the creative community of Durango, Colorado. Selected artists and cultural organizations received funding opportunities to develop projects, programs, and experiences to better the city of Durango. Maddie was selected out of over 35 applicants to create a mural in downtown Durango to bring more Indigenous art to the community.
AWARDS
Durango Creates Recipient (2023)
Selected as a lead artist for this project, Maddie has created a community based mural for the local soup kitchen in collaboration with The Walls Project. Through this grant Maddie will guide volunteers through the process of creating the mural, making it a collaborative effort. The project aims to engage volunteers of all ages in the painting process, promoting community involvement and ownership of the artwork. The Manna Soup Kitchen Mural Project creates a lasting and meaningful artwork that represents the community's spirit of generosity, compassion, and unity. Through the involvement of volunteers and the collaboration between different community stakeholders, the project promotes community and a sense of pride of accomplishment for all those involved.
CASE Fellows are artists from all corners of Colorado and CU Boulder scientists who will work in teams to produce artworks that will be exhibited at the Colorado State Capitol as part of the Colorado Creative Industries Creative Capital program, May-September 2023. The exhibition, tentatively titled Coloradans and Our Shared Environment in Times of Challenge and Change, will tell the story of how Coloradans are experiencing interrelated challenges of fire, drought, and water and air quality in their communities. The CASE Fellows aim to build a sense of connection around Colorado environmental issues by co-ideating artwork with input from communities.
Durango Lodger's Tax: Arts and Culture Funding (2022)This funding project is a historic move for the creative community of Durango, Colorado. Selected artists and cultural organizations received funding opportunities to develop projects, programs, and experiences to better the city of Durango. Maddie was selected out of over 35 applicants to create a mural in downtown Durango to bring more Indigenous art to the community.
Soul of Nations Indigenous Green Architecture Project: Lead Artist: (2021)Connecting young designers from American and Africa to create art installations that highlight environmental stability, architecture, and history. Maddie's project focuses on the importance of sustainable environments, Indigenous knowledge, and reclaiming our roots.
Fort Lewis Brand Ambassador: (2019)
Promoted the Fort Lewis College brand through social media.
: (2018-2019)
This project helped bridge the digital gap that exists among Native American and Belgian migrant communities, and expands on notions of displacement, cultural identity, roots, community and multiculturalism through Communities Connecting Heritage funded by the U.S Department of States. The art project was created in collaboration between students who attend the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Belgian participants who partnered with the Institute of Sainte-Marie in Brussels, Belgium. This creative collaboration was administered by BOZAR — Center for Fine Arts Brussels and Soul of Nations. Designed and built in the 1920’s by the famous art nouveau architect Victor Horta, BOZAR – Center for Fine Arts features almost 4000 m² of exhibition space, Belgium’s most prestigious concert hall as well as various smaller theatre and multimedia spaces. The CFA welcomes more than a million visitors a year and is the arts center par excellence in the cultural landscape of Belgium, host country to the European institutions. As such it is uniquely positioned to act as an agent of cultural diplomacy and exchange in the context of today’s most pressing issues.
Cobell Scholarship Recipient: (2016 – 2021)
The Cobell Scholarship is administered by Indigenous Education, Inc. and awards Indigenous students who maintain at least a 3.5 GPA.
American Indian College Fund Full Circle Scholarship Recipient: (2017 – 2021)
The American Indian College Fund provides scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native college students seeking a degree.
United National Indian Tribal Youth 25 Under 25 Recipient: (2018)
The awards program celebrates the achievements of Native American and Alaskan Native youth ages 14 to 24 who embody UNITY’s core mission and exude living a balanced life developing their spiritual, mental, physical and social well-being.
Generation Indigenous Ambassador: (2017 – 2020)
The Generation Indigenous initiative was launched by President Obama to help provide a sustainable platform to connect, engage, and provide opportunities for Native youth. Being an ambassador enables the exchange of resources, professional network-building, and community initiative development. It also provides a platform to elevate Native youth voices into the national dialogue.
WeRNative Ambassador: (2017 – 2019)
As an Ambassador, I helped create positive change in my community by promoting positive health behaviors, hosting outreach and awareness events, and represented We R Native at youth conferences.
Mvnettvlke Onaya (Youth Visionary) Award: (2016)
This award recognizes Mvskoke Youth ages 12 - 24 making an impact and inspiring their community.
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