Indigenous Futurisms: Transcending Past/Present/Future
Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA - This incredible and unique exhibit was sent to us by graphic designer Sallie Wesaw Sloan on behalf of the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts. All pieces explore the future from a Native perspective and they are just stunning. In this post, you will see a few select pieces, some shots from the actual exhibit, and a link to a beautiful virtual version of this exhibition! Enjoy exploring this special collection!
From the submission:
Indigenous Futurisms: Transcending Past/Present/Future is an exhibition installed at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts until July 26. Due to Covid-19 precautions, the artworks can currently only be viewed in a virtual version of this exhibition. Indigenous Futurisms presents the future from a Native perspective. Artworks illustrate the use of cosmology and science as part of tribal oral history and ways of life. The science fiction and post-apocalyptic narratives depicted in some of the artworks are often reality for Indigenous communities worldwide. The imagery and narratives also emphasize the importance of Futurism in Native Cultures. Artists use Sci-Fi related themes to pass on tribal oral history to younger audiences and to revive their Native language. The works in this exhibition create awareness about how cultural knowledge and tribal philosophies are connected to the universe, science and the future. Indigenous Futurisms was co-curated by IAIA art history faculty Dr. Suzanne Fricke, Chelsea Herr (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), and IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts chief curator Dr. Manuela Well-Off-Man. The virtual online version was developed by MoCNA Senior Manager of Museum Education Winoka Yepa (Diné).
Nicholas Galanin (Tlingit/Unangax̂)
Things Are Looking Native, Native’s Looking Whiter. 2012
Digital print
20.42 x 14.67 in.
Collection of the artist
Daniel McCoy Jr. (Muscogee Creek/Citizen Band Potawatomi)
Mind Food. 2014
Prismacolor and Ink on Paper
13 x 13 in.
Collection of Mateo Romero
Virgil Ortiz (Cochiti)
Taoky, Doyen of the Rez Spine Watchmen. 2019
High fire clay
24.5 "h x 13"w x 9"d
Photo credit: Virgil Ortiz
Jeffrey Veregge (Port Gamble S'Klallam)
Tron. 2019
Digital print
17 x 11 in.
Collection of the artist
Among the artists in this exhibition are Marcus Amerman (Choctaw) (IAIA 1984); Sonny Assu (Liǥwildaʼx̱w of the Kwakwaka'wakw Nations); Luzene Hill (Eastern Band of Cherokee); Frank Buffalo Hyde (Onondaga/Nez Perce) (IAIA 1995); Elizabeth LaPensée (Anishinaabe/Métis); Steven Paul Judd (Kiowa/Choctaw); Daniel McCoy Jr. (Muscogee Creek/Citizen Band Potawatomi) (IAIA 2003); Virgil Ortiz (Cochiti); Ryan Singer (Diné); Santiago X(Coushatta/Chamoru); Robert Dale Tsosie (Navajo/Picuris Pueblo) (IAIA 1991); Nicholas Galanin(Tlingit/Unangax̂); Teri Greeves (Kiowa); Kite (Oglala Lakota), Devin Ronneberg (Native Hawaian decent), Ehren Kee Natay (Kewa/ Diné); Shelley Niro (Mohawk); Sarah Sense (Chitimacha); Skawennati (Mohawk); Hoka Skenandore (Oneida/Oglala Lakota/Luiseno/Chicano) (IAIA 2006); Neal Ambrose Smith (Salish, Metis, Cree); Rory Wakemup (Boise Forte Band of the Minnesota Chippewa); Debra Yepa-Pappan (Jemez Pueblo) (IAIA 1992); and Jeffrey Veregge (Port Gamble S'Klallam).
Visit the IAIA official website or follow them on social media!
Instagram: @iaiamocna
Please take a look at the slideshow below for shots of the actual installation taken by photographer Jason S. Ordaz.
