Elisa Harkins is a Native American composer and artist from Miami, Oklahoma. Her music, animation, paintings and paper mache sculptures investigate Native American stories, rituals, and spirituality through the lens of someone raised on pop culture and computer games. She received a BA in Interactive Media in 2001 from Columbia College in Chicago and has shown her work at the MCA Chicago, Andrew Rafacz Gallery, Club Nutz, ACRE Projects, Secret Project Robot Room, Design Miami, and Locust Projects Miami. She currently lives and works in Los Angeles.
Below are three examples of Elisa’s music and animation work. To see more, visit her website at elisaharkins.org.
Ham Dance
2012
Animation, Music
Your favorite song about ham, along with an instructional video starring a Yeti and a Polar Bear about how to do the Ham Dance.
BFF
2012
Animation, Music
Hypnotic kaleidoscopes of yetis, Kachina dolls and owls mesmerize you as you listen to this ear worm about friendship.
Buffalo
2011
Animation, Music
Loose narrative about the origin of the Blackfoot Indian “Buffalo Dance”. The chief’s daughter is kidnapped by a buffalo shaman. He rescues her, only to be trampled to death by the buffalo. With the help of a magical bird she brings him back to life. They are allowed by the buffalo to go back home, but only if they promise to honor the buffalo for it’s fur and meat.