A Native American artist is bringing his work to Davis this week.
Mark Shelton, a self-described “American-Indian Historical Preservationist,” will show his artwork at the Landmark Bank starting Thursday and running through Wednesday.
The work Shelton is currently involved in is a series of portraits, including historically significant Indian chiefs and prominent tribal members.
The series is a five-year study in color, texture and emotional force.
Shelton’s goal is to educate the public about the fortitude of the proud people he paints.
His work is derived from vintage photographs, capturing a time when Native-Americans saw their way of life vanishing.
They knew that they had to forge ahead into the future, while keeping their culture and traditions intact.
Shelton, a Chinook Indian, was born in Moline, Ill. After moving to Oregon in 1984, he earned his associate degree from Portland Community College and later got his bachelor’s degree with honors from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y.
