Label TextBoth the coyote head and the color blue are common iconography in Slick’s art. Slick
thinks of this blue as a cool twilight, existing as both “object and atmosphere.”
The coyote is a strong presence in the mythology of numerous Indigenous nations. He is
often seen as a trickster or shapeshifter, but also a symbol of creativity, adaptability, and
intelligence. Slick employes the coyote as a sort of alter ego or collaborative voice. As a
young artist who struggled to feel comfortable making political art. “I decided I
couldn’t make the overtly political works,” he says, “but if I trusted Coyote, he
could do it for me.” This particular coyote is based on a mask the artist found in Mexico
and photographed from multiple angles. Slick draws these various layers on top of one
another in works like Deep Blue Friend, lending a sense of movement and even
animation. In this work, he feels the layering of color paired with the layered imagery
gives the print a sense of depth and tactility.
DimensionsSheet: 14 x 11 in. (35.6 x 27.9 cm)
Accession Number 2025.123
Classificationsprint
SignedD Slick (l,r graphite)
InscriptionsDeep Blue Friend (l,l graphite)
1/50 (l,c graphite)
Edition1/50
ProvenanceArtist; Des Moines Art Center [commissioned for Des Moines Art Center Print Club from previous, 2025]
