Not Vanishing
Contemporary Expressions in Indigenous Art, 1977 - 2015
October 10, 2015 - January 3, 2016
Exhibition Date: October 10, 2015 - January 3, 2016
Reception Date: Saturday, October 10, 2015
Artists: Leo Adams, Joe Feddersen, Preston Singletary
The Museum of Northwest Art is pleased to present Not Vanishing: Contemporary Native American Art, 1977-2015, which opens October 10, 2015. The exhibit will fill the entire museum, and contains the artworks of more than forty artists. Curated by Gail Tremblay and Miles R. Miller, this exhibit seeks to bring together significant artworks by artists in the Pacific Northwest region in order to examine both the evolution of Native American artwork and the artistic strategies used by artists as they represent the complexities of Indigenous realities to the world.
Tanis S’eiltin (Tlingit), Territorial Trappings (detail), Mixed media
Not Vanishing contains artworks that tackle difficult issues that face our society today. Artists use a variety of methods and a wide range of media that includes drawing, painting, wood carving, metalwork, weaving, glass, and multimedia installation work. Artistic styles vary greatly, in part because historically Indigenous people in Native cultures have traditions of both abstract and representational design that have influenced artists and art movements around the world. In addition, Contemporary Native artists who are trained in art are aware of the wide variety of choices they have as they develop their own individual styles.
Corwin Clairmont (Salish Kootenai), Lewis and Clark Series #6, 2001
The majority of Contemporary Native American artists in Not Vanishing have studied art-making styles and technologies from around the world, as well as the historical and evolving style of aesthetic work in their communities. Both established and emerging artists use a wide variety of strategies to make their 20th and 21st century culture and experiences visible to the people who examine their work, and they seek to start a dialogue between themselves, their art, and the world. By presenting this body of artworks to the public, the Museum of Northwest Art seeks to support this important dialogue and encourage interactions between the viewer, the artwork, and the community.
Ryan Feddersen (Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation), Blade Descending Pedestal, 2011