Standing with Standing Rock – Spencer Keeton Cunningham
Since early November, American artist Spencer Keeton Cunningham has been back and forth visiting
Standing Rock, a place where hundreds of native tribes banded together to halt the Dakota Access
pipeline in North Dakota. While traveling to and from Standing Rock Cunningham painted large
scale murals spreading awareness about the movement of Standing Rock in Massachusetts, San
Francisco, Portland and Seattle. His painting in Seattle, located on the SODO track, is a 200 foot
collaboration with local artist, Josh Keyes.
While at Standing Rock, Cunningham helped document the actions by water protectors in film and
photo while he also painted signs and paintings on site while at the camp in support of the Standing
Rock Sioux’s battle against what the natives and supporters on camp called the black snake.
One of Cunningham’s paintings that reads “Water is Sacred” adorns the water truck that brings
everyone water at camp. Another states “Indigenous Sovereignty Protects Land, Air and Water”
Below is a collection of images Cunningham has taken from November 2nd till Dec 9th 2016. Although
many people have left the camp, Cunningham is currently still at Standing Rock helping the
remaining people there that are starting get ready for the rest of winter.
Proud to call you my friend Spencer. There is no one in this world like you. Thank you homie!!