Marcus Xavier Chormicle Reclaims Photography in 'Say Uncle' Project
Marcus Xavier Chormicle, a lens-based artist hailing from Las Cruces, New Mexico, and currently a graduate student at the University of Arizona, is highlighting an Indigenous viewpoint through his photographic endeavor titled 'Say Uncle.' As a member of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, he retraces the steps of his uncle, Michael Dean Chormicle, in Séc-he (Palm Springs, California) along traditional routes. This project critiques the historical use of photography as a 'colonial weapon.' In March 2026, Chormicle presented an installation on his uncle's property within the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, showcasing photographs on double-sided, six-foot panels arranged in a spiral. The work delves into ancestral connections to the land and cultural insights, examining the dynamics of visibility. The source article was published by Southwest Contemporary.
Key facts
- Marcus Xavier Chormicle is a lens-based artist from Las Cruces, New Mexico, and a graduate student at the University of Arizona.
- Chormicle is a lineal descendant of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.
- His ongoing project 'Say Uncle' follows his uncle, Michael Dean Chormicle, through the canyons of Séc-he (Palm Springs, California).
- Séc-he was a location where Edward S. Curtis photographed Cahuilla people for 'The North American Indian' (1907-1930).
- In March 2026, Chormicle mounted an independent installation on his uncle's land allotment within the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation.
- The installation featured double-sided, six-foot photographic panels arranged upright in the sand in a spiral formation.
- The Agua Caliente Indian Reservation forms a checkerboard pattern intertwined with downtown Palm Springs.
- Chormicle argues that photography has historically been used as a 'colonial weapon' to define Native life from the outside.
Entities
Artists
- Marcus Xavier Chormicle
- Michael Dean Chormicle
- Edward S. Curtis
Institutions
- University of Arizona
- Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
- Agua Caliente Indian Reservation
- Southwest Contemporary
Locations
- Tucson
- Arizona
- United States
- Las Cruces
- New Mexico
- Séc-he
- Palm Springs
- California