BIOGRAPHY

My name is Michael Ray Smith and I was born in Sacramento, California. I'm Comanche and Irish. I was a Marine. Now, I'm a Sun Dancer of the Native American ceremony.... I know that doesn't say much about who I am, where I've been, or what I'm doing. Or does it?

I've walked many paths in my life and done many things in many places with many different people. I've seen things no man should ever have to see, and I've seen things anyone would be blessed to see. My watercolor and graphite illustrations portray some of these sights, feelings and experiences that have crossed my path over the years.

Some of my work depicts stark realities, and growth as I moved through darkness during my youth. Some of it represents my sense of humor and the joy I feel when interacting with nature spirits. Other works of art show the curiosity that's caused me to look outside myself - beyond my borders. I paint things that make me laugh, or make me cry, or both at once.

Much of my work is esoteric and ranges from symbolic spiritual work - to fantasy - to shocking reality. Spirit moves me to tell stories with my art, and at times, it has had an impact on those who have had similar experiences illustrated in my paintings. A good example of that is my painting, "The Sniper". It depicts a sniper in a bamboo forest pointing a gun at the painting's viewer. This work has evoked reactions from apathy - to awakening war veterans' sadness. My poetry and prose cover a similar range of subjects and elicit like responses. Often, I present a poem alongside a painting to help tell the story.

Over the past decade, my work has been seen in numerous art shows affiliated with the Northern Nevada literary publication, "Razor Wire". My brutally honest painting, "The Killing Fields" and accompanying poem, "Nightmares in Kampuchea" was selected to represent Razor Wire and gained attention from local newspapers for it's saddening, but yet, awakening content.

In 2004, I responded to a "call for artists" for a show hosted by the Rock Art Foundation; an organization for the preservation of ancient rock art (http://www.rockart.org). Years previous, I had taken photos of ancient rock art and based a series of paintings after them. As my "Rock Art" painting and accompanying poem "Petroglyphs" hung on the walls of the opening reception, I was entertained by the audience's disgust. Little did they know that I did not include modern-day graffiti just to antagonize - but that it was actual graffiti at the ancient rock art location! My goal for the poem was to demonstrate how petroglyphs and graffiti are the same thing - from different times.

In 2005, my 80-page book "The Illustrated Poetry of Crazy Bear" was published and is available for purchase. I haven't seen anyone who wasn't stunned, shocked and/or tickled by my illustrated poetry book. Check back here for updates on future publishings as more are in the works.

Mato Witko / Crazy Bear