Ft. Washakie artist will soon be featured in Wind River Trading Co.

FREMONT COUNTY, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) -

A Wind River artist has been creating art on billboards, hard hats, just about anything he can put a paintbrush to, and he’s about to be featured in a Fremont County store. Some say life is a blank slate, but for Eustace Day in Fort Washakie, every day is a blank canvas. He’s been painting those canvases for 30 years, but now you’ll be able to see his art appearing on t-shirts sold at the Wind River Trading Company in Ft. Washakie. Dave Hines, owner of the Wind River Trading Company stated,

“So many of your companies that you buy from, they’ll tell you ‘artist inspired,’ what we’re looking for is artist made 100% directly from the artist.”

Eustace Day owns Native FX Art and designs, and his new partnership with Dave started when he was commissioned last summer to refurbish the mural outside the store in Ft. Washakie. “The push is to get a high percentage of local artists and Native American artists. Local so you’re giving the tourists something locally, but Native American to push Native American artists,” added Hines.

Eustace’s calling card as he puts it, is placing two eagles in every piece of artwork. As well as his calling card, he has a motto. “We all have a voice, and we can express our voice through visual art. When they see my artwork it’s like speaking out without actually speaking,” stated Day.

Dave said he’s been inspired by Eustace’s hard work, ethic, but to Eustace, it’s all natural. “There was just something about art that just took me away from the outside world, it was just a blessing to have this gift. To me, it just felt natural,” emphasized Day.

For more information, or to contact the artist, his email is eustaceday@gmail.com and his Facebook page is Native FX.

However this new partnership isn’t the only art related progress Eustace has made. He also made it in the finalists of the Wind River Startup Challenge. It is hosted by the University of Wyoming and Impact 307. It is an entrepreneur opportunity to distribute thousands of dollars to native-owned startup businesses. It started last year with 20 applicants. 29 people applied this year, and it has been narrowed down to eight finalists.

Natalie Lucas, an intern at 307 and spokesperson for the challenge stated, ‘It is a partnership with the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes, so members of those tribes can apply to this competition. It is a $25,000 seed fund, they can apply to it with their business idea, whatever that may be.” The eight finalists will continue until May when the winner will be announced.

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