Artist's StatementEverything begins with tobacco and sacred medicines. The act of harvesting sacred plants, allowing them to marinate in water, then mixing them with acrylic paint initiates her creative process. Often mixing in small amounts of sage or peyote into the paint, Ms. Bell preoccupation is to addresses historical moments in Indigenous history. Fond of unconventional materials, subject matter and composition, Ms. Bell's use of dollar bills is typical. She artistically paints over the conventional black and white portraits with powerful colourful images of indigenous people. Ms. Bell habitual use of the five-dollar bill relates to the historical relationship that Lincoln had to Indigenous people. Painting over President Lincoln’s portrait with a proud indigenous matriarch underscores the societal impact and legacy of Lincoln’s policies and creates a form of poetic justice.
