Half Indian/Half Mexican

Half Indian/Half Mexican

1991

James Luna (Luiseño, Diegueno, Mexican, 1950–2018), Half Indian/Half Mexican, 1991. Inkjet print; 30 1/16 x 72 2/16 in. William Sr. and Dorothy Harmsen Collection at the Denver Art Museum, by exchange, 2009.773A-C. © Estate of James Luna

Half Indian/Half Mexican I’m half Indian and Half Mexican. I’m half many things. I’m half compassionate/I’m half unfeeling. I’m half happy/I’m half angry. I’m half educated/I’m half ignorant. I’m half drunk/I’m half sober. I’m half giving/I’m half selfish: A self made up of many things, I do not have to be anything for anybody but myself. I have survived long enough to find this out. I am forty-one years old and am happy with my whole—self. Don’t let your children wait as long… Artist, James Luna
Artist
James Luna, Luiseño, Ipai, Puyukitchum, Mexican, 1950-2018
Born: California
Work Locations: California
Culture
Luiseño | Puyukitchum | Ipai | Mexican
Locale
California
Country
United States
Object
triptych, black and white photograph
Medium
inkjet print
Dimensions
height: 30 1/16 in, 76.3588 cm; width: 72 3/16 in, 183.3563 cm
Credit Line
William Sr. and Dorothy Harmsen Collection at the Denver Art Museum, by exchange
Department
Native Arts
Collection
Indigenous Arts of North America
Accession Number
2009.773A-C
Known Provenance
Created by the artist, CA, 1991; Acquired by William Sr. and Dorothy Harmsen Collection, before 2009; Purchased by the Denver Art Museum, 2009.
Exhibition History
  • "Identity Crisis: Self-portraiture at the End of the Century"—Milwaukee Art Museum, 1997
  • "TRANSactions: Contemporary Latin American and Latino Art"—Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 9/16/2006 - 5/12/2007
  • "Speaking with Light: Contemporary Indigenous Photography" - Amon Carter Museum, October 2022 to January 2023.
  • “Speaking with Light: Contemporary Indigenous Photography” — Denver Art Museum, 2/19/2023 – 5/21/2023

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