A palimpsest of memory, a play on time, a questioning of history as truth—Copeland invites the viewer to contemplate historical and contemporary issues through a different lens.
Sherry Cheng
Exhibitions
22-channel video installation, framed solar plate etchings, ephemera, audio guide
Videos
Viewing the videos through the crosshairs of a gun scope serves as an intentional reminder of the violence that was inherent in James’ crimes, and it also invites viewers to reflect on the tense relationship Americans have held with guns for many generations.
Megan Wilson Krznarich
Audio Guide
Original composed score by Dallin B. Peacock. Audio Guide narration by Ike Duncan.
Artist Statement
My fascination with Jesse James stems from childhood family lore—tales of our blood kinship to the notorious outlaw Jesse James. While some girls bragged of their pedigreed ancestral lineage to the Daughters of the American Revolution, I could usually bring conversations to a stuttering halt when announcing my consanguinity to the daring outlaw.
My great great grandmother Sarah Louella Prevette McCracken’s 2nd husband was a first cousin of Jesse James. William Henry James a.k.a. Billy (father named Cyrus) and Louella were married for nine years. My great great grandmother didn’t like the business dealings and comings/goings of the James’ clan and divorced Mr. James in 1887 due to lack of support for her and her son Thomas Leslie James (my maternal grandmother’s father). Mary Beulah McCracken (my great grandmother) married Thomas Leslie James (her stepbrother), thus continuing the James lineage. This sounds like a Shakespeare comedy or tragedy, depending on your perspective. But at least she didn’t marry her first cousin, which was quite common for the time.
While I knew that My Jesse James’ Adventure would involve another performative journey—one that spanned many days and miles, for he was quite a prolific outlaw, my quest goes beyond the personal connection of a namesake or literary heritage to examine issues of fake news, gun violence and criminal celebrity stardom. The project addresses the cultural mythos of criminals, specifically how the icon Jesse James was/is presented and commodified in books, films, comics and historical sites.
In summer 2018, I embarked upon 1st part of the journey filming at the sites where the James Gang outlawed throughout West Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama and Eastern Missouri. In summer 2019, I continued the journey, filming at sites in western Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Minnesota, finishing with Arkansas and Texas in 2020.
