Jean LaMarr facts for kids

Jean LaMarr, born in 1945, is a talented artist and activist from California. She is part of the Northern Paiute and Achomawi Native American tribes. Jean creates many kinds of art, like large murals, prints, sculptures, and special displays you can interact with. She is officially a citizen of the Susanville Indian Rancheria.

Growing Up

Jean LaMarr was born in Susanville, California. Her Native American name is Pahime Gutne, which means 'Purple Flower Girl.' Her family didn't have much money.

When she was in fourth grade, Jean created her first mural. It was called "Sir Frances Drake Christianizing the Indians." This experience was very important to her. At school, she faced unfair treatment from some teachers because she was Native American. At home, she sometimes had to hide her art. Her father wanted her to choose a job that seemed more practical.

Education and Influences

Jean LaMarr studied art at several colleges. She went to San Jose City College from 1970 to 1973. Then she studied at the University of California, Berkeley, from 1973 to 1976. Later, she attended the Kala Art Institute from 1976 to 1986.

Some of her teachers at UC Berkeley didn't like her realistic style of art. While in San Jose, Jean supported the Occupation of Alcatraz. This was a protest by Native Americans for their rights. She then joined other artists who spoke out against unfair treatment. The "Third World strike" in Berkeley in 1969 also shaped her work. She was also inspired by Chicano artists like Ester Hernández and Malaquias Montoya.

Art Career

Jean LaMarr survey show entry wall at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts

Between 1973 and 1990, Jean LaMarr taught art at many places. These included the College of Marin, San Francisco State University, and the Institute of American Indian Arts. She is well-known for her large murals and her prints.

Jean likes murals and prints because they can be seen by many people. She once said, "I believe that art is for everyone." She feels art should not just be for museums or rich people. She thinks it should be in everyone's home. This is why she started making murals and prints. She uses her art to raise awareness about the Earth, Native American rights, and Native American women.

Jan Rindfleisch, a curator, has written about Jean LaMarr's work. She says Jean has supported Native communities for 40 years. Jean's art shows Native people in a positive way. This helps to correct old ideas that ignored Native presence. She often focuses on women, celebrating their history and strength.

Jean LaMarr also started the Native American Graphic Workshop. In 2022, the California Society of Printmakers gave her a special lifetime membership. This was to honor her important work in printmaking.

In 2022, the Nevada Museum of Art held a big show called The Art of Jean LaMarr. It featured over 60 of her artworks. This show later traveled to the Boise Art Museum and the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. The exhibition included prints, paintings, and sculptures. Many of these works focused on Native American women and common stereotypes. Her art challenges unfair ideas about Native people, especially women. It also talks about the effects of colonialism and environmental fairness.

Debra Harry, a professor of Indigenous Studies, described Jean's art. She said Jean speaks with great pride in her Native heritage. Her art challenges the unfairness and racism that Native people face. It also shows the softness and beauty of Native cultures, especially Native women.

Personal Life

Jean LaMarr married DeeRoy "Spence" Spencer (1945–2015). He was a Navajo man and a Vietnam War veteran. They had one son together.

Works

Prints

• Sacred Places Where We Pray, photo etching, 1990
• 500 Years of Resistance: Through Women's Eyes, screenprint, 1992, printed with René Castro at Mission Gráfica

Murals

• Our Ancestors, Our Future, mural, Lasson Street, Susanville created with Jack Malotte
• The Ohlone Journey, mural, Berkeley, California

Selected Exhibitions

• 1987: The Ethnic Idea, a group show at Berkeley Art Center, California
• 1995: Violetly Volatile: Selected Mixed Media Works from 1974 to 1995, a solo show at C.N. Gorman Museum, California
• 2019–20: When I Remember I See Red: American Indian Art and Activism in California, Crocker Art Museum, California
• 2022–23 The Art of Jean LaMarr, Nevada Museum of Art, Reno; Boise Art Museum, Boise; IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, Santa Fe, NM
• Princess Pale Moon exhibition, Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona