Destiny  Green

Destiny J. Green is a Chickasaw, Oklahoma-based artist residing within the Chickasaw Nation. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas at Austin and has completed a residency with the School of Visual Arts. Green’s artistic practice has extended across many media and disciplines including lithographic printmaking, paper and fiber sculpture, digital video, and digital photography. Her photography illustrates transitional space, temporal distance, states of paramnesia, and the uncanny utilizing light and digital media manipulation. Green is the proud mother of two brilliant children.

Aahíkkiʼya Ano̱wa: Chikasha Ihoo Oksi̱foshiʼʼat Okcha̱at Billiʼyaʼ Aahíkkiʼya Again: Chickasaw Hatchet Women Live Forever

Medium: Digital Lens-based Art

30'' x 30''

$750

In 1736, a fearsome group of grandmothers, mothers, and daughters entered the fray of a failed French attempt to destroy their beloved village and wrest control of the Mississippi River from the Chickasaw. These unconquerable Chickasaw women ran singing into battle, wielding iron hatchets and striking terror into the heart of the French. The resulting retreat and defeat of French forces secured the safety of their community, and we now refer to this event as the Battle of Ackia or the Battle of Aahíkkiꞌyaꞌ.

This lens-based piece utilizes traditional markings found on shell carvings/gorgets from the Mississippian period of our early southeastern ancestors. These markings represent wind, water, or clouds-and in the case of this image- they represent the turbulent shift of time. Using a fiberoptic light brush, I painted the ꞌPꞌ or ꞌ9ꞌ shaped markings in the night sky around the models while they stood before the camera. This contemporary depiction of the battle is not only an homage to the brave women who turned the tide at Ackia, but also a testament to the resilience and strength of their daughters who will forever stand ready to take up the hatchet in defense of their people. The marks of our ancestors remind us that linear time has never ruled our understanding of the world and that our strength lives forever in each other.

Pickup at Red Earth Art Gallery, 100 N Broadway, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.
Interested in having this item shipped? We can arrange packing and shipping for an additional cost. Please call 405-427-5228 or email info@redearth.org before purchase.