Post 7 - Art Talk / Sky Hopinka - Carla Herrera

Introduction 

• Sky Hopinka, indigenous film marker 

• Making films in Portland, Oregon 

• Similarities between language and film  

• Film focus: language, identity & indigenous mythology 

• Professor 

• Experimental  

Background:  

• Indigenous background 

Purpose: 

• Story telling  

• Respecting traditional means of indigenous cultures 

Inspiration: 

• Landscapes, diverse backgrounds 

Audience: 

• Native or indigenous audience 

He films tells stories that focuses on themes of indigenous culture and experimental methods. Helps people understand indigenous stories and challenges the western way of thinking. 

How does Sky Hopinka use his medium of choice? What inspired him to use video? 

• Sky Hopinka, uses film making to tell stories of the indigenous culture and background. He uses video manipulation and experiments with different methods of film making to tell a poetic story. Using landscapes as his visual background, he wants to create a space that describes and focuses on themes of indigenous culture. Influenced by his learning for the Chinuk Wawa language, he creates experimental cinema that is developed by the Native aesthetics. 

What material/medium/process do you use and how? What inspired you to make your work that way? 

• The different materials I use completely vary. There are times when I prefer traditional mediums, (such as (colored pencils, charcoal or oil paints) and other moments where I enjoy experimenting with digital media (photoshop, procreate etc..). What inspired me to work in these different ways is the type of mood I am in. Depending on what I am currently interested in, influences what type of medium I work with. However, there are moments where I embrace spontaneity and choose what best captures my current emotions.  

Post 7 - Sky Hopinka, Art Talk | Rocco Francisco

Sky Hopinka, Mnemonics of Shape and Reason, 2021 / ICA Miami

• How does Sky Hopinka use his medium of choice? What inspired him to use video?

    Sky Hopinka uses a video format to create a cinematic experience related to landscapes and nature, creating an ethereal feel in the process with overlapping video and text.The usage of language, drawing from his own heritage; however, he does so in a way that does not lean entirely on his background. His videos and their intended audience, according to Sky Hopinka, varies depending on the videos themselves.

 

    Hopinka states "I make the videos that I make because it’s what I want to make; it's a part of the conversation that I want to have with either these histories or this exploration of what it means to exist in the right here, right now, as opposed to participating in a romanticization or tokenization of my culture or my past and my family's past and my tribe's past" (Sutton).

 

    Sky makes work that speaks to him, with the subject matters not necessarily being related to Native identity, yet not entirely staying away from them. It is important to make this distinction. The usage of video is one that is not always clear, as Sky does not seek to show every single detail. The experimental filmmaking techniques allow for some things to have focus, and others to be left in the air for others to interpret. Much of these techniques also reflect the "point of wonderment" that Sky refers to during the interview (Sutton).

 

    The video format allows for Sky Hopinka to explore different ideas with a sense of wonder, using both audio and visuals to guide the viewer on journeys that feel authentic because of their ambiguity.

•  What material/medium/process do you use and how? What inspired you to make your work that way?

    As a graphic design major, I primarily work digitally, usually concerned with the appearance on screen and posters. To me, the software is the paint or the graphite to the screen that serves as my canvas. I have always been working with technology, adoring the process of learning new software, something that is also true in my music career and personal video editing projects.

    In objective works, I take advantage of the fundamentals I have been learning while attending classes to make sure I can make whatever a client asks of me. This is also true for music; the client serves as the brain and I almost act like a vessel to create their vision. However, my influence in my own design biases will be felt in the process. I have specific aesthetics that I prefer, and meanings that I enjoy tackling, with a clear preference towards digital design and subjects related to technology. A lot of the time in music, because of the specific community that follows me, I make things that are meant to "sound cool" in the sense of feeling action oriented, but not necessarily having a deeper meaning. These are projects that I take a lot of pride in and aspire to improve upon.

 

    On the other hand, my personal works that are not career oriented often cover themes of personal reflection by having a lot of ambiguity in their meaning, because they typically serve as a way for the audience to insert themselves into the piece. My works can be described as chaotic, something that is also reflected in my workflow as I typically go with the method of trying until something works; instead of drawn sketches before moving into digital work, I usually create an intense amount of digital pieces until I find something that I can expand on. 

 

    These two parts of my work are very separated, almost feeling like two different artists entirely at times.

 

    I enjoy the process of learning new things and trying to apply them. I make music, work on a range of graphic fields, work on video editing, and even occasionally work on keyframe animations. Many of these things come together, especially with music and visual art combining in my most vulnerable works. By putting my emotions into something that I enjoy and find myself doing naturally, I create pieces that I feel are deeply personal to me while also being able to be interpreted in many ways by other people. 

    I worked in all of these fields because I enjoy the process and spending a lot of time trying to make something "better than last time," and find myself repeatedly going back to themes of self reflection. 

Post 7 Sky Hopinka How do you make it. Kenneth Maldonado

 Welcome back to the post. Hope you guys had a good time away from blogger. Did you know Google owns blogger? I didn't until a few weeks ago. The more you know. Now purpose of this post is about Sky Hopinka and his work. How he uses his medium and what inspires him to do video. Then as the artist I am. Imma make it about me. Cause I have nothing better to do.

Sky makes videos which trippy. Experimental and fragmentary, Hopinka’s films piece together video footage, audio recordings, and archival material to investigate concepts of language, landscape, and identity, as well as the mythology and traditions of the Ho-Chunk Nation.  Visual manipulations and overlays enhance his work’s dreamlike, sometimes hallucinatory effect, creating space for an audience’s own curiosity and wonder. His work has been shown in many festivals like Sundance, Ann Arbor and many more. He's had family that has been artistically inclined. His dad was a singer mom a dancer and grandma an artist. It does play a factor in him going into art. Sky uses videos to explore language, indigenous myths and beliefs. While using newer techniques to make it work.

The Medium that I work with is digital, Painting and drawing. With painting I'm learning to use gouache more. For gouache it's more in the classroom than anything else. But I take a photo and outline it and then paint it with the appropriate color. What makes me want to work is usually a Grade to pass the class. If it is on my free time I usually get a strong urge to just draw something either physically or digitally. It could be anything from multiple shapes forming into something or a project I want to continue.

That's all I have for today folks. God bless you and has an amazing day.

Post 7 - Sky Hopinka : Mohamed Camara

How does Sky Hopinka use his medium of choice? What inspired him to use video?

    Sky Hopinka, a filmmaker who, explores the intersections of language, landscape, and indigenous identity through experimental films that blend video footage, archival material, and visual manipulations. His work, influenced by his learning of language, Chinuk Wawa, parallels language structure and filmmaking. Hopinka is committed to honoring indigenous history while innovating storytelling, avoiding romanticizing Native culture. His creative process involves deliberate filming, extensive editing, and ensuring his work resonates with indigenous audiences while maintaining cultural privacy. His films challenge Western epistemological entitlement and aim to engage viewers without overt explanations, fostering curiosity and introspection. 

What material/medium/process do you use and how? What inspired you to make your work that way?

    I primarily work with digital art, painting, or sketching. I don’t have a specific process, which is something I need to improve on. I want to get better at creating without relying on motivation, but I usually make art when I feel a spark: when there’s something I need to express. It could be heartbreak, self-awakening, a random thought, or even something I see outside that inspires me. My creativity is spontaneous, and I don’t try to control it because I’d rather create something I’m passionate about than force something just for the sake of making art.

    Nothing specific inspired me to work this way: it’s just how I’ve always been. Or maybe not. When I was younger, I was a perfectionist, obsessing over every tiny detail to the point where I’d create nothing at all. That mindset made me hate art and the creative process, even though it’s something I love. Over time, I learned that I work best when I don’t force things, and that realization has allowed me to enjoy creating again.

Post 7- How Do You Make It? Sky Hopinka -CTF

 

• How does Sky Hopinka use his medium of choice? What inspired him to use video?
• Sky Hopinkia's medium of choice is Film and Storytelling. He does visual manipulation, piecing together video, audio recoding, and mixes concepts of identity, language, and landscapes. He grew up around artists; his mother was a dancer, his grandmother was a beadwork artist, and his father was a singer. He grew up around creative people. So, it's no surprise that Hopinka has pursued a career in the art field, and it's safe to believe the family's creativity inspired his motivation to continue. Language was a big theme for him as well; in the article, he even states that as he learned Chinuk Wawa, it gave him a foundation and structure on how he approaches his work- the structure/Rules of language and grammar and approaches to learning.

"I wasn't able to look at it critically until years later, but the structure of grammar, the structure of language, all these different rules or approaches to learning language—I could see myself applying those same things to how I approach video. And just trying to figure out what it was I was interested in and how they're very similar in these ways that aren't immediately obvious" - Sky Hopinka (Response 3).

• What material/medium/process do you use and how? What inspired you to make your work that way?

• The best way to explain my process of creating is this: a sketchbook and a comfortable pen (or colored pencil) are the way to go. Not being able to erase will force you to work with errors and trust yourself in the creative process. Don't think (or think it's up to you); just do. Even if it's a "terrible" drawing or sketch, keep it, and keep sketching. If you are truly struggling for inspiration, going out in nature helps. If that isn't an option for you, go through your camera roll! Pinterest is also a great source for color palettes and poses. These all may even inspire the composition itself. Once again, Sketch. Even get input from friends and take critiques (they are just suggestions- but they may see something you don't). Just keep drawing; it will get you to where you want to be, even if you choose to restart. Another thing, don't be comfortable! You won't learn. 
• The mediums I've naturally gravitated toward are traditional Sketching and Digital art due to growing up watching cartoons/comics and animated movies, both classic and modern- I fell in love with the process of creation and the idea of collective minds with completed skills contributing to a creative project. Teamwork! Everyone should have access to paper and a pencil- that is how it started for me- the state test hated to see me coming because I wouldn't answer a thing but trust! There are gonna be 3 million doodles on the paper when it's turned in.
• Preferred materials when engaging in these Mediums tend to be: sketchbook, pen, colored pencils, graphite, ink, crayons. Digitally I use software like: Procreate, Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Sketchbook, and Clip Studio Paint. 
• What kept me going was my genuine interest in learning and growing in these mediums. Being around people who share the same passions and goals has also been a huge source of inspiration for my work.

Sky Hopinka-Cierrah Kelly

 How does Sky Hopinka use his medium of choice? What inspired him to use video?

• Sky Hopinka's medium of choice is video. He uses video to focus on Indigenous life and culture. Hopinka uses video footage, audio recordings, and archival material to investigate concepts of language, landscapes, mythology, and traditions of the Ho-Chunk Nation.  He uses his experimental and fragmentary filming style to explore these topics in depth. He uses visual manipulations and overlays to create a dreamlike and hallucinatory effect in his work, creating a space for an audience’s curiosity and wonder.

What material/medium/process do you use and how? What inspired you to make your work that way?

• The materials and mediums that I like to use are graphite and ink pens. I also loved doing ink work and making dramatic line art inspired by medieval print and the talented Junji Ito.  I would first draw what I wanted with graphite pencils, and I would soon lightly erase what I drew to the point I could faintly see it, and then I would start inking the drawing. I use techniques such as cross-hatching to shade. I move the pen away from me because a tattoo artist friend is guiding me and giving advice on how to ink better. What inspires me to work that way is watching comic book/manga artists in their inking process and tattoo artists inking on fake skin, mainly when they use a pen instead of the standard tattoo gun.

Post 7 Sky Hopinka - Rachel Birtwistle

Rachel Birtwistle

Studio Research I

Professor Jung

March 31st, 2025

Post 7 

Notes:

• He grew up around artists. His grandmother was a bead artist, mother was a dancer and father was a singer

• He holds a lot of respect for the stories he acquires and does his best to innovate while also preserving them

• He limits his audience in order to generate a more understanding atmosphere around his work

• He has a structure for his work that allows him to relate different pieces to one another

• How does Sky Hopinka use his medium of choice? What inspired him to use video?

Sky Hopinka’s medium of choice is video. He uses a video medium to capture the complexities of Indigenous Culture. Hopinka uses this art to help viewers understand the identity, language, environment, and history of Indigenous people. The combination of audio, film and history blended in this style puts the consumer in a trance like state that embodies the spiritual nature of Indigenous culture. He allows the audience to interpret the pieces in any way that relates to them while still maintaining his overall message. The inspiration to use the medium came from when the artist was learning one of the Indigenous cultures native languages. Hopinka found that the aspects of both film and language were very similar in their structure and how they can be transformed. He used the idea of transformation to link these themes in order to represent Indigenous culture and narratives. 

• What material/medium/process do you use and how? What inspired you to make your work that way?

I may use a digital medium when creating my pieces but sometimes I will utilize acrylic paints or graphite. I use each medium in different ways such as how my digital works are often layered with information and symbolism to create a plethora of meanings while my paintings and drawings often have one theme that they stick to. My work has many sharp strokes and edges that allow each element to stay independent from its counterparts. I feel that the obvious break between different elements allows the viewer to focus on the art work as individual elements and as one whole when combining them together. I was inspired to make works this way from graphic designers such as Robert Massin and David Carson. These designers immerse the viewer with their bold elements colliding to make one piece and that inspired me to do the same.