Kay WalkingStick, a Native American landscape artist and member of the Cherokee Nation, spoke at Andover this Sunday afternoon. With her artwork currently exhibited at the Addison Gallery of American Art on campus, students, faculty, and other community members alike gathered to listen to her motivational words, gaining insight into the inspiration and meaning behind her work. At 89 years old, Kay WalkingStick has been painting for nearly 70 years. Her art is a culmination of her lived experiences and ideas, expressed through colorful strokes on a canvas. Each step in her life has been documented with paintings, blossoming into the successful career she leads today.
“I just stay alive and keep making paintings. I’ve been making paintings since I was in my early 20s. I am 89 now, so that’s a lot of years. I’ve been doing it regularly, I’ve been making art throughout a complex life: I have children, I have had two husbands, I had a lot of years alone, I had a major teaching career. I’ve done everything; I mean, I’ve had a full life. But throughout that, I have always made paintings, always, every day. So that’s how I got where I am, just doing it, just being. I try to stay alert, I try to stay awake, I try to pay attention,” said WalkingStick.
WalkingStick believes in the spiritual and cultural value of nature, cherishing aspects of her Native American culture. Her artwork reflects this appreciation, which she hopes to cultivate in the communities around her. Additionally, WalkingStick and her artwork function as part of the social movement to acknowledge the land the United States was built on and which we all still inhabit today.
“I hope they take away an idea of the value and preciousness of our earth. I think that all of the show, not just my work but all of it, is about this precious planet that we have, that we should take better care of. I would also like to remind them that all of us who are living in this hemisphere are living on Indian land, and most of it was stolen. The Indians didn’t gift it, you know. So this is important for people to recognize that this is Indian land, and that we should be taking care of it,” said WalkingStick.
WalkingStick reflected on her past, dissecting the mindset that has led to her current career success. In terms of advice, she stresses the importance of passion and commitment to all endeavors whether they are art-related or not, recounting her mother’s wise words on utilizing the life one already has.
“I think it’s important to dedicate yourself to something and really enjoy it. You know, whether it’s dance, or whether it’s another art form, or whether it’s building bridges, to dedicate yourself to that and really enjoy doing it, is crucial. Enjoy your life, that’s what it’s about, enjoy your life, make the most of it. My mother used to say to me, ‘a smart little girl like you outta make something of herself,’ and that’s what she was telling me, to find something to dedicate myself to and do it,” said WalkingStick.
Kay WalkingStick’s visit also neatly overlapped with the History 300 curriculum’s current topic of Native American presence and United States history up until 1861. By offering a first-person perspective beyond textbook readings and secondary sources, WalkingStick allowed these students’ learning to transcend the classroom. Drew Wasylyshyn ’26 commented on how his interest in the event was piqued by an announcement in class.
“In my history class, we were learning about Native Americans and their connection to art and how different perspectives vary different art styles. Our history teacher told us about this unique opportunity of seeing this very talented artist come and talk to us about her work, and I just sprung at the idea,” said Wasylyshyn.
Wasylyshyn also points out how WalkingStick’s presentation and exhibition taught him that art is much more than something beautiful. Art encompasses ideas, feelings, personalities, and movements; it holds so much influence over our opinions and can have an equal, if not greater, power than words.
“[My] biggest takeaway is that art has many forms, and culture influences art. We can express our feelings, our heritage, anything really, in art… Just have open eyes and open doors. Art can be a very special thing to the creator but also to the audience and it can really influence our ideas, and I think it’s great that she’s getting the recognition she deserves,” said Wasylyshyn.
