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Frank Tuttle
Get to Know Me:
I am of Yuki and Konkow Maidu descent, an enrolled member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes in northeastern Mendocino County, CA. Lives on the Hoopa Indian Reservation in Hoopa, California with his wife. Retired from school counselor for elementary and high school students; from outpatient healthcare, including mental health services for rural Native American populations in northern California. Employed as an instructor of studio art practices and Native American studies at the college level for many years
At one time, I titled a presentation I was giving, “Around Small Fires.” This description still reflects my perceptions and inspirations.
My work has always reflected a deep respect and awe of Native beliefs. Our strongest ties to our sense of being, belonging and sense of place can focus on a small fire: a fire burning ceremoniously, or a flame struggling to keep those around it from the cold and darkness.
It is the fire that brightens the faces of the traditional dancers, lightens the hopes of those watching from the margins. The fire is also the fire we carry inside, a fire that may burst forth on occasion with vigor, but most often, it remains a steady beacon.
My images are a result of perceptions and memories of being around small fires: visiting, listening and reflecting. Reflecting on what it means for me to identity as a Native given our past, what has brought us here and where we might go in the future.
Frank Tuttle, January 1992