Time lapse of artist Votan Ik creating his mural of Plenty Coups in Downtown Los Angeles’ historic Indian Alley.

When photographer Pamela Peters' photography exhibition "Exiled NDNz" opened at the 118 Winston Art Gallery in Los Angeles, it wasn't the only visual spectacle that day. Maya/Nahuatl muralist Votan was just outside in "Indian Alley" hard at work on his painting of the Crow Chief Plenty Coups (1848-1932).

Indian Alley has become home to a number of works celebrating Native culture or identity, as well as others celebrating that "other" Indian culture -- the one identified with the Asian subcontinent. (Others who've left their mark on Indian Alley include Shepard Fairey and Jaque Fragua.)

The art happening was also accompanied by Native music, prompting this reflection on 118 Winston's Facebook page:


Sunday Jan. 5th in Indian Alley the sound of the drums and ancient voices echoed off the cliff walls and down the canyon letting all of downtown know WE ARE STILL HERE!!

Here's a time-lapse video of Votan (who is the creative force behind NSRGNTS clothing) doing his thing, to the strains of A Tribe Called Red's "Electric Powwow Drum" (and shot by Landon Taylor):
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