2024
Acrylic on canvas
22” x 28”
 
Ace Tax connects the historical taxation of European playing cards to modern misconceptions about Native American taxation. In Europe, playing cards were once banned, later taxed, and marked with elaborate Ace of Spades designs. This history influences my imagined Stick Game Casino, merging past and present symbols of taxation.
 
The focus is the myth that Native Americans don’t pay taxes. While tribal nations are sovereign, Native people still pay federal income tax, and tribal casinos contribute through state agreements. The wild Appaloosa and arrowhead in the painting represent the fight for sovereignty, while the spade and arrowhead’s shared shape reflect the commonalities between Native American and European imagery.
 
Pick up is availble for Tacoma or Seattle.