Bently Spang: On the Future of Indigenous Performance Art

Abstract

Bently Spang's performance art piece Tekcno Powwow III raises questions about the past and future role of performance and aesthetics for Indigenous and mixed-blood people—interrogating perception and representation of Indigenous identity. This essay provides a brief background on Native American Bently Spang (Northern Cheyenne) as a multi-media artist, a performance review of his Tekcno Powwow III, and an interview with Spang—highlighting his concept of “Blue Guy/Indian of the Future.” I theorize Spang's “performing indigeneity” using the concepts of Indigenous and borderlands performance studies scholars/writers. Examining moments of performative techniques specific to Indigenous people, I explore how Tekcno Powwow III demonstrates artistic exploration and creates a space for intercultural discursive practices among Indigenous and mixed-blood identities. This essay gives voice to how Indigenous decolonial projects are being constructed in the larger context of performance art in American theatre.