From The Rev. Canon Robert Two Bulls, Jr.

When I had first looked at the entries for this exhibition, I had scrolled down quickly and would pause at images that spoke to me through my understanding of UBUNTU. This picture of Victor Juliet had given me the longest pause out of all the images. Given that the term is from Africa the connection of this picture was made for me. I read the artist comments later. It was then that I was surprised to learn that Victor is a trans person living his life openly in a country that considers him persona non grata. He continues to stand up for all LGBTG peoples in his country even after being imprisoned or beaten simply for being himself. In my Lakota traditions and culture individuals like Victor had a place in society. It was only after the advent of Christianity was their place made no more. In this picture a moment is captured of someone teaching, of a man building a bridge. This is UBUNTU.

About The Rev. Canon Robert Two Bulls, Jr.

I am an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Oyate and I reside on, what is left of our original homeland, the Pine Ridge Reservation in southwestern South Dakota. One of my earliest memories is of hearing the drum and singing trail late into the night and feeling the earth reverberate from the deep bass of the drum as both sound and feeling lulled my siblings and me to sleep. My vocation and ministry is working with the Native American Indigenous Peoples of this land under the auspices of the Episcopal Church.

 I am an ordained minister. I currently work in both the inner city, urban and reservation setting. I am in charge of an inner city Native American Indigenous congregation called All Saints Mission located near the largest urban Native American housing projects in America, Little Earth.

I have many interests and gifts chief among them is that I am an artist. I still find time to paint. My medium of choice is acrylics on canvas. My recent focus has been Icons and Christian religious art.  I have designed two icons for two church organizations, and a few orders are on the “back burner.” I used to do logo and design work as well as sign-writing and calligraphy. I sometimes teach a class on Art and Spirituality.  I have been invited to have my own art show in Washington DC in 2010. 

Other interests are listening to music and being that my tastes are eclectic I can never get enough it. I love to read and study.  And if I were given one choice of something selfish do in life I would probably choose a nice long visit in a great big library while equipped with a full iPod a sketchpad, good coffee, and some good cigars.

I currently serve on various boards and committees.

Under TEC: • The Executive Council Committee on Indigenous Ministries  Term Ends 2009; • The Episcopal Peace Fellowship; and • The Episcopal Evangelical Education Society   

Secular: • The Phelps Stokes Fund • Pejuta (A forming non-profit organization that has as its vision core to provide affordable and easily accessible medicine to Native Americans living on the reservations); and • Ancient Traders Gallery Art Board

Note: the image of The Rev. Canon Robert Two Bulls shown above is a painting by Marty G. Two Bulls.