Title: Entry Forbidden
Oil in Canvas - Rez Life Series
Parsons 2025
Growing up in Montana, our high school teams would travel long distances across the state to play against other schools—often in towns where we weren’t welcome. After the games, we’d stop at gas stations or convenience stores to grab snacks, stretch our legs, and unwind. But for many of us Native kids, the simple act of walking into a store wasn’t guaranteed.
In some white towns, we’d be made to wait on the bus while our coaches or chaperones went inside. Other times, a store clerk would stand with arms crossed at the entrance, blocking the doorway with an unspoken message: “You’re not welcome here.” We were just teenagers, tired and hungry from the game, but we were seen as threats—suspected of stealing before we ever stepped foot inside.
This painting captures one of those moments: the warm, fluorescent glow of the store, the barrier of glass, the silent refusal, and the quiet tension of being watched but unseen. It’s a memory burned into many of us—not just of exclusion, but of resilience, of community, and of the power in remembering.
Comments
Hello Helen. I’m unraveling my past to deal with some issues I’m experiencing in my life. I just keep telling myself that it’ll be worth it in the end. I only have 2 more in this series. One is awesome! The other is sad and it’s about how the Native American people on my Rez are hurting themselves through greed, corruption and narcissistic attitudes (no, the Chief isn’t Trump).
Another telling scene from your childhood....so sorry people treated you this way. Very sad!
You have shown great courage expressing your hurtful past from moments like this in your artistic creations. Thank you for sharing this very personal part of you with us here. It was upsetting to read the details of how you were treated by some others during your teens; I'm very sorry you had to endure that ignorance.
Another impressive one Bob!
Unbelievable how discrimination continues to this day. Super painted and nice that you address the topic and share your experience. Thank you for that my friend👊🏼🇩🇪🇺🇸🔪
Hi my dear friends! I interact frequently with my friends and family back home in the Rez using FaceBook. I’d be honored to have you as friends there too! It might help you gain some insight into how life is in a modern day Native American Indian reservation. My page is https://www.facebook.com/share/1991RhVS92/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Thanks Sandy!
Thanks Kerri!
Thanks Joha!
Thank you my dear friend Dirk!
Love your art and style- you have a gift, and sharing your experiences through painting is so impactful. Thank you.
Thank you Stephie!
Wow Bob, I'm really impressed with you people. Have you tried portraits?
A couple. I’m getting better. Not quite ready to say I can do them yet.
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Blimey, what a way to begin life, you must have wondered what kind of a world you'd been born into. A great piece of art as always, thank you for sharing your story, it can't be easy reliving these memories.