Thefirstfull-lengthcriticalanalysisofthepaintingsofJauneQuick-to-SeeSmith,thisbookfocusesonSmith’sroleasamodernistinadditiontoherstatusasawell-knownNativeAmericanartist.WithclosereadingsofSmith’swork,CarolynKastnershowshowSmithsimultaneouslycontributestoandcritiquesAmericanartanditshistory.Smithhasdistinguishedherselfasamodernistbothinherpursuitofabstractionandherexpressivetechnique,buttoooftenheridentityasaNativeAmericanartisthasovershadowedtheseaspectsofherwork.AddressingspecificthemesinSmith’scareer,KastnersituatesSmithwithinspecifichistoricalandculturalmomentsofAmericanart,comparingherworktotheabstractionsofKandinskyandMir籀,aswellastothepopartofRauschenbergandJohns.ShediscussesSmith’sappropriationofpopcultureiconsliketheBarbiedoll,reimaginedbytheartistasBarbiePlentyHorses.AsKastnerconsidershowSmithconstructseachnewseriesofartworkswithintheartistic,social,andpoliticaldiscourseofitstime,shedefineshercontributiontoAmericanmodernismanditshistory.DiscussingthewaysinwhichSmithdrawsuponherculturalheritage--bothNativeandnon-Native--KastnerdemonstrateshowSmithhasexpandedthedefinitionsof“American“and“modernist“art.
