first nation

Anishinaabeg: Art & Power

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The wonderful story of the Anishinaabeg people is told in the exhibition Anishinaabeg: Art & Power at the Royal Ontario Museum. Using art to discuss cultural traditions and their knowledge, their art was deeply influenced by inter-communtiy relationships with other indigenous groups and the arrival of Europeans to Canada. Humans, their ancestors, nature, ceremony and supernatural beings known as spirits are depicted in the artwork. It was a true honor to see the work in person on this weekend to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day in America!

Saul Williams “White Women and Their Plants” 1972
Nadia Myre “Indian Act, page 51” 2000 and 2003
Nadia Myre “Meditations on Red #2”
John Laford “Drummer” 1977
Barry Ace “Baby Warrior”
Johnson Meekis “Kingfisher (Keshkimminiseh)” 1975
Kathryn Wabegijib “Self Portrait in Reclaimed Cooper”
Norval Morriseau “Shaman” 1964
Randolph (Randy) Trudeau “The Spirit and the Spiritual Feather” 1988

 

Cahokia

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Cahokia was an amazing experience!

Cahokia is the largest prehistoric site in the Americas outside of Mexico. The 2,200 acre tract, which is the central section of the ancient settlement, can be located a few miles outside of Collinsville, Illinois. It is regarded as the most sophisticated prehistoric native civilization north of Mexico. One of the greatest cities of the world, Cahokia was larger than London in AD 1250. The Cahokia Mounds is a State Historic Site and World Heritage Site.

Songs for Spirit Lake at the Rauschenberg Project Space: North Dakota Museum of Art

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Photo credit: Erin Hylton
Bill Harbort, Passing through the Spirit Lake, 2013

As per the press release for the Rauschenberg Foundation and North Dakota Museum of Art:

“Curated by Laurel Reuter, director of the North Dakota Museum of Art, the exhibition Songs for Spirit Lake  will  reflect  the  ongoing  conversation  between  six  artists (Rena Effendi, Bill Harbort, John Hitchcock, Terry Jelsing, Mary Lucier, and Tim Schouten) who  created  artwork  on  or  about  the Spirit Lake Sioux Reservation in North Dakota under the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation’s Artistic Innovation and Collaboration Grant Program.”

Songs for Spirit Lake is a poignant and unique show within the Spring season in New York City with its theme, artists and curatorial selection. The project began in November 2012 when an exhibition of the artists work went up in the gymnasium at the Cankdeska Cikana Community College, in Fort Totten, which was the first contemporary art exhibition at the reservation. Artists explore several topics in connection to their conversations with each other and their experiences with people and landscape of the reservation. Exhibition includes photography, painting, installation, and video as well as a performance at the Opening by live musicians from the reservation. In seeing the exhibition you will engage with voices and traditions of the Spirit Lake community as conveyed through the eyes of the artists.

Songs for Spirit Lake runs May 24 through June 29, 2013 at the Rauschenberg Project Space at 455 West 19th Street, New York City and open to the public from 11 am to 6 pm, Tuesday through Saturday, and admission is free.

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Photo credit: Erin Hylton, close up of
Bill Harbot, Passing through the Spirit Lake, 2013