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Photography by Edward C. Robison III.

Rio Grande Casino Landscape, 2000

In this panoramic landscape, tourists speed by a large casino, a 7-11, and a McDonald’s – all constructed in Santa Fe’s characteristic adobe architectural style. Although originally from Minnesota, Chippewa artist David Bradley’s work foreground’s the tourist industry’s commercialization of Santa Fe and places attention on how non-Native culture affects the city’s Native people and landscape. The result is a painting that balances stereotype with lived experience to create a biting critique.

ArtistDavid Bradley, Chippewa, born 1954
Date2000
MediumAcrylic on canvas
Dimensions36 x 36 in. (91.4 x 91.4 cm)
Signedl.r.: DAVID BRADLEY BIRD (c) '00 verso, l.c.: 36' x 36' / "Rio Grande Casino Landscape" / acrylic on canvas / DAVID BRADLEY BIRD (c) '00
Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2020.72
ClassificationPainting
ProvenancePrivate Collection, NC; (Brunk Auctions, Asheville, NC), July 13, 2018, lot 888; Bruce Hartman, Prairie Village, KS; purchased by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR, 2020
On ViewYes
Rio Grande Casino La…36 × 36 in.Tennis Ball2.7 in. diameter

This artwork's face covers about 178× the area of a tennis ball.Drawn to the same scale.