Gidinatiy Hartman (they/them)
Ade' - Hello
Gidinatiy Hartman si’ezre’. Saint Paul, Minnesota dhisdo. Wasilla xist'anh. Deg Xit’an itlanh. Singonh Angela Hartman vi’ezre’. Sito’ Mike Hartman vi’ezre’. Sitse’ Alice Demientieff vi’ezre’. Sitsiy Rudy Demientieff vi’ezre’.
My name is Gidinatiy Hartman. I live in Saint Paul, Minnesota. I’m from Wasilla, Alaska. I am Deg Xit’an. My mother is Angela Hartman. My father is Mike Hartman. My grandmother is Alice Demientieff. My grandfather is Rudy Demientieff.
What I'm Doing Now
In 2021, I got a Bachelors of Fine Arts in printmaking at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In addition to printmaking, I use paints, beads, markers, and photoshop to create art.
Currently, I live in St. Paul, Minnesota. I am working on commissions and expanding my artistic abilities. I am currently commissioned by Blue Hummingbird Woman to draw illustrations for a children's book. In addition, I am commissioned by Kuspuk School District to create a coloring book representing the lives of kids in the village. I am also a fellow at Highpoint Center for Printmaking in Minneapolis.
Artist Statement
I am Deg Xit'an Athabascan and White. My Native language is Deg Xinag. My artwork is about creating visual representations of the Deg Xinag and other Native languages. My art is centered around a desire to reclaim my family’s Athabascan language, a language skill that was taken from my family due to the prevalence of colonial boarding schools. My artwork is united by a sense of whimsy and wordplay. For instance, my etching titled Yix Xidina' Yi'idituq, which translates to the Deg Xinag phrase “the house spirits jump up,” is a lively and illustrative image of a girl violently sneezing, startling the house spirits. One example of the wordplay I employ in my art is my print of a dragonfly on a shield. In Deg Xinag, dragonfly or “Siq’angine” literally means “protect me,” which I have visually represented through the shield on my print. The majority of my artwork is prints and digital art. My overall goal for is to make it easier for people to learn Deg Xinag and other Native languages. Having multiple modes of representation, including visual art, makes language revitalization more accessible to people.
Resume
Education
2021 BFA in Printmaking, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK
Exhibition Record
2023 Juried Group Exhibition, "We Are Still Here" Indigenous Arts Showcase, Friedli Gallery, St. Paul, MN
2022 Solo Exhibition, Dinayetr "Our Breath": Deg Xinag Language Revitalization, Alaska Pacific University, AK
2021 Solo Exhibition, Dinayetr “Our Breath”: Deg Xinag Language Revitalization BFA Thesis Exhibition, University of Alaska Fairbanks, AK
2021 Invitational Group Exhibition, The Pink Show, Well Street Art Company, Fairbanks, AK
2019 Invitational Group Exhibition, Student Art Show, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK
Commissions
2023-present Childrens book, Blue Hummingbird Woman
2023-present Coloring book, Kuspuk School District
2023 Breastfeeding design, Tanana Chiefs Conference
2022 Indigenous food sovereignty design, Tanana Chiefs Conference
2021-2023 Ahtna matching cards and coloring pages, Cheesh’na Tribal Council
2021-2023 Behnti Kenaga’ four seasons coloring pages, Bahais of Nenana
2021 Language at Home, Doyon Foundation
2017-19 Sun Star comics, University of Alaska Fairbanks newspaper
Fellowships
2023-24 Jerome fellow, Highpoint Center for Printmaking
Fashion Shows
2024 Promotional art, Arctic Winter Games Indigenous Fashion Show