Jeffrey Veregge: Bold Americans – Above + Beyond

May

America needs heroes. Men and women whose passions boldly defy and ignite our humble imaginations. Stalwart individuals whose pioneering spirit forces a nation to rise above the daily challenges of life and asks us to be better than we were the days before. Hope in dark times calls for ordinary people to do un-ordinary things, to have the courage to ask, “What if?” This art is the first in a series that celebrates those whose exploits changed a nation and raised our public conscience to new levels of understanding of the world around us. These are the “Bold Americans”. 

-Jeffrey Veregge

Illustrator and designer Jeffrey Veregge (Port Gamble S’Klallam) delves into American history to honor exemplary men and women in the fields of science and aviation, utilizing Coast Salish formline design to convey a blend of nostalgia and respect for these pioneers. Veregge writes, “We are in a dark time as a country; divided and angry. I want an art show that brings us back to a time of hope, bravery and imagination. I want people to see and remember real heroes from various times in our country: a visual form of patriotism that isn’t hate-fueled.”

Exhibition Dates:

May 2, 2019 - May 31, 2019

Involved Artists:

Jeffrey Veregge

Featured Works

Jeffrey Veregge (Port Gamble S’Klallam) has been on a meteoric rise over the last few years, with his art appearing on the covers of comic books; being a featured guest at comics conventions; and the commission of a huge custom mural for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. His art style, which he refers to as “Salish Geek”, has been featured in over 100 comic books for Marvel, IDW & Valiant comics. Some of his new projects include a large City of Seattle Public Arts Commission; custom commissions for the Snoqualmie Casino; work on a comic book about the life of Star Trek actor and activist George Takei; and working with Leonard Nimoy’s Live Long And Prosper shop to create limited edition prints of Spock to benefit UCLA medical for research for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). He has been featured recently by Smithsonian Magazine, Huffington Post, Colorlines, and other publications for his signature style of “Salish Geek”.

“My origins are not supernatural, nor have they been enhanced by radioactive spiders. I am simply a Native American artist and writer whose creative mantra in best summed up with a word from my tribe’s own language as: “taʔčaʔx̣ʷéʔtəŋ”, which means “get into trouble”. A member of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, I was raised and spent a majority of my life on our reservation known locally as Little Boston, which is located near Kingston, Washington. Although I am enrolled there, I am also both of Suquamish and Duwamish tribal ancestry.

I am a honor graduate from the Art Institute of Seattle, and I have had the privilege to study with Tsimshian master carver David Boxley for a short time learning the basics of Salish form-line design. My work is a reflection of a lifetime love affair with comic books, toys, TV and film. Taking my passions and blending them with my Native perspective, artistic background and the desire to simply be me. Basically I am just trying to have fun and get back to that kid that went to art school to begin with, wanting to create artwork that I want to see and make just for the hell of it.”

-Jeffrey Veregge