Artwork copyright James Luna. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2016.

Artwork copyright James Luna. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2016.

Artwork copyright James Luna. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2016.

Artwork copyright James Luna. Photo courtesy of University of Washington, 2021.

Artwork copyright James Luna. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2016.

Hot Medicine Bag, 2002

James Luna
(American | Luiseño, born 1950, died 2018)

Location: University of Washington, Seattle

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Hot Medicine Bag is a humorous conceptual sculpture created by artist James Luna (Luiseño). It was used by the artist in his performance art that shakes up our ideas of what an American Indian is. He uses anything he can to get his point across. This medicine bag is made with a common drugstore hot water bottle, beading, and leather fringe with metal jingle cones. Luna notes "I am not a healer, but I can be considered a clown."

This artwork is part of the Contemporary Native American Artwork Collection, on view at the University of Washington Gallagher Law Library in Seattle. James Luna is one of the eight featured contemporary Native American artists. The collection was proposed by artist John Feodorov, who selected the eight represented artists for their rich and forward-thinking cultural expression. Speaking to the contemporary nature of this collection, Feodorov notes “since art, like law, is an ever evolving process, it cannot rely on nostalgia if it is to remain relevant."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with University of Washington.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

James Luna (Luiseño, 1950-2018) was a performance artist, photographer, and multimedia installation artist. His art explores and challenges stereotypes of Native American peoples, especially in our modern world. Humor and irony play important, healing roles in Luna's work.

Luna lived on the La Jolla Indian Reservation in Southern California. He was of Luiseño, Payómkawichum, Ipi, and Mexican heritage. Luna earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of California at Irvine in 1976 and a Master of Science degree in counseling at San Diego State University in 1983. He taught art at the University of California, San Diego, and spent 25 years as a full-time academic counselor at Palomar College in San Marcos, California. In 2011, he received an honorary doctoral degree from the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico.