The Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums, or ATALM, granted the 2024 Distinguished Artist Award to Gerald Clarke, Jr., an artist and UC Riverside ethnic studies professor. 

The award was presented in November in Palm Springs at the 2024 International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums, which brought together 1,700 attendees from around the world. 

The award recognized Clarke’s contributions to native art and advocacy. The official conference artwork featured Clarke’s “Continuum Basket: Pivat.” In real life, the piece measures more than 7 feet in diameter and is made of crushed aluminum cans attached to a repurposed satellite dish shaped in the form of early 1900s Cahuilla baskets. “Continuum Basket: Pivat” is on exhibition at the Palm Springs Art Museum. 

“I strive to keep my art real and grounded in my personal experiences,” Clarke said. “Materials like beer cans, branding irons, and gourd rattles reflect my identity and my community — a community that faces challenges but also loves, laughs, and evolves.” 

Clarke is a member of the Cahuilla Band of Indians and lives in the home that his grandfather built on the Cahuilla Indian Reservation. He also manages his family's cattle ranch, continuing a tradition upheld by his family and other Cahuilla Indians since the Spanish Colonial period over 250 years ago. 

As a UCR professor, Clarke teaches courses on the history, culture, and art of the Native American people and is an advocate for native issues. 

“Gerald Clarke is not only an exceptional artist but also is a powerful advocate for Native issues," said Walter Echo-Hawk, ATALM’s board chair, in a statement. “His work embodies the resilience and creativity of Indigenous cultures. It is fitting to honor Gerald during a gathering dedicated to the very principles he represents.”