
SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2025 REVIEW! Director/producer Loren Waters tells the story of the Tiger Art Gallery T-shirt company in this feel-good documentary short, Tiger. Dana Tiger is a Native American artist based in Oklahoma and the matriarch/current owner of the Tiger Art Gallery. Her father, Jerome Tiger, was a famous painter until his untimely death; he was shot at the young age of 26. Tiger Art Gallery was founded by her mother and uncle, Johnny Tiger Jr. Dana’s mother created the company to continue her husband’s legacy and artistic influence. The shirts were sold internationally and in department stores like J.C. Penney.
Dana and her younger siblings, Lisa and Chris, each played a part in the family business. Chris helped silkscreen the shirts while Lisa dried them. Her younger siblings had a tight connection; unfortunately, tragedy struck both of them. In 1990, Chris wanted to follow in Dana’s footsteps and become an artist. One night, he decided to give some acquaintances a ride home. Tragically, at this house, he was shot right between the eyes. Dana’s eldest daughter is named Christie in tribute to her youngest brother. Lisa, the middle child, was diagnosed with AIDS; additionally, Dana and Lisa both have Parkinson’s disease. Chris’s death shook up the family dynamics, and the Tiger Art Gallery ceased crafting shirts for many years.

Dana Tiger appears in Tiger by Loren Waters, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Robert L. Hunter.
“… tells the story of the Tiger Art Gallery T-shirt company…”
Loren Waters’ documentary short displays the optimism and resilience of Dana Tiger. She is wise, in tune with the spirit world, and deeply loves her family. Her spirit makes this documentary a joy to watch, as she keeps on smiling while living with Parkinson’s disease. Waters’ film is superbly crafted with fanciful cinematography by Robert L. Hunter. With Hunter’s great eye for lush lighting, Oklahoma feels mystical and visualizes Dana’s idealist view of the world. The editing and sound design by Amanda Moy and Eva Dubovoy help the audience connect with many tragic moments in Dana’s life as we hear voices from the spirit realm. It elevates the documentary from a fly-on-the-wall experience to a dreamlike sensibility.
All of these aesthetic elements connect with Dana’s love of tradition and carrying on her family’s devotion to crafting distinct t-shirts. Tiger is a touching film and a wonderful inspiration for entrepreneurial artists.
Tiger screened at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

"…touching..."