Save The Man

Constructed entirely of embroidery floss and upcycled cosmetics waste on canvas, the background of this piece features the famous line: "Kill the Indian, save the man" - authored by none other than the founder of US Indian Residential Schools, Captain Richard Henry Pratt, during his speech at the National Conference of Charities and Corrections in 1892.

As a survivor of childhood torture, the artist's research has led them to consider Pratt as the founder of institutional childhood torture in the US, as many of the traumatizing institutions still in existence drew inspiration from Pratt's practices.Following the Pretti Graffiti pattern of rendering toxic, oppressive quotes unreadable and reclaiming the canvas with inspiring words from marginalized populations, the artist chose to cover Pratt's quote with a line from First Nations hip hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids: "Don't take what you can't handle. Don't break what you don't understand." from their 2017 song Savages.

All Pretti Graffiti prices are based on what the artist likes to call "oppression by the numbers" - all prices carry significance that relates to the piece in their numbers.This piece is priced at $50K.This number comes directly from Pratt's speech wherein he highlights that the going rate for the scalp of an Indigenous girl under the age of ten was 50 USD - equivalent to $1690 in today's dollar.10% of all proceeds from each Pretti Graffiti piece are donated to fund humanitarian aid for modern day survivors of non war related childhood torture.

Dimensions: 20” x 20”

Materials Used: Embroidery Thread, Upcycled Cosmetics Waste [Lipstick, Concealer, Foundation, Eyeshadow, Hairspray