Torry Mendoza, b. 1970
Contact: info@torrymendoza.com
My work addresses the past, present and future conditions of Native
Americans within the political, cultural and spiritual climate of America.
I use film and digital media to approach various aspects of Native
American life to contest the negative connotations attributed to Native
Americans, which have historically affected the portrayal, identity and
representation of Native Americans in mainstream White America.
Through the utilization of film and digital media I depict contemporary
portrayals of Native American life and identity that has begun to
increasingly involve cultural preservation issues. Cultural preservation
confronts the historical hegemony Native Americans have endured
and addressing these issues provides today's society with
contemporary depictions of Native Americans where normally very
few exist. I come from a highly diverse ethnic background. I identify
as being Native American (Mescalero Apache). The constant changes
in local and global regions continues to redefine my identity and alter
my aperception of what it means to be Native American.