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Artrain USA Receives the Nation's Highest Honor for Museums

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Combined Federal Campaign Code 12385

Current Exhibition

Influences of Modern Culture-A Contemporary Native American Art Exhibition

Urban Indian Yuppies
Pat Courtney Gold
(Wasco, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, OR)
Basketry, mixed fibers and beads
2003

 

Artrain USA is pleased to present Native Views: Influences of Modern Culture, a contemporary Native American art exhibition. Named as an American Masterpiece exhibition by the National Endowment for the Arts, Native Views is touring America – coast to coast – from April 2004 through December 2007.

Native Views: Influences of Modern Culture is an exhibition that addresses modern indigenous cultures. The exhibition explores the ways Native American artists are influenced by popular culture and offers mainstream America the opportunity to look at and consider different insights into contemporary society. It seeks to redefine Native American art by broadening the limits and stereotypes that currently define it.

Meet our guest curator, Joanna Bigfeather

Rose and Coyote Dressed up for the Heard Show
Harry Fonseca
(Nisenan-Maidu/ Portuguese/ Hawaiian)
acrylic and glitter on canvas
1981

Native Views Exhibition

Native Views consists of 71 contemporary artworks by 54 living Native American artists. Artworks depict individual creativity as well as a clear continuity with the cultural past of Native America. Through the variety of media included in the exhibition, Native American artists examine their rich heritage and fold these perspectives into current cultural images. By viewing these works, visitors will learn about Native America's powerful contributions to contemporary art and society, be introduced to the many commonalties Native and non-Native people share and consider the complexity of American culture. Visitors will also better understand the complex issues surrounding Native American history and the challenges faced today by tribal groups.

It is Artrain USA's goal, through Native Views, to teach people about this artistic movement and to present an educational opportunity that lets visitors incorporate new ways of thinking into their views of Native art and culture. The art selected for this exhibition will challenge stereotypes of Native American art and culture and at the same time introduce visitors to distinguished artists that emphasize and honor the deep-seated belief systems of the Native community.

Daybreak
Joe Maktima
(Hopi/Laguna Pueblo)
Acrylic and metal leaf on paper
2003

Native Views: Influences of Modern Culture is divided into three sub-themes.

Influences from Popular Culture

Today, more than in any other decade, one can travel into any town in American and recognize familiar images. Popular culture crosses state, reservation, race and class lines to influence and impact all people. Within these circumstances, Native Americans have been able to meld popular culture with their cultural traditions. The work selected for this section will demonstrate how Native artists have interpreted the familiar images that affect their lives.

Native Knowledge: Land, Science, Wisdom

The artwork selected for this section explores the strong relationships Native people have with the land and nature. These works celebrate the beauty of the environment and present issues of over-development. The public will be able to observe the wisdom gained from Native Americans’ respectful relationship with the world around us. This portion of the exhibition will also interpret the interaction of modern science and traditional wisdom and how these opposing concepts are portrayed in contemporary Native American art.

Cultural Modernism and Technology

This section includes works that depict technology or that use new technologies to highlight the synthesis of the traditional and the modern. By using technologies such as computer art or by incorporating technological images, the artists give viewers a dynamic perspective on art and society. Artworks invite viewers to cast off their expectations and stereotypical images of “Indian art.”

The inclusion of diverse Native American artists, of many tribal backgrounds, will bring to the broader public recognition of the richness, complexity and breadth of Native American culture. Each artist has added their own voice to the project by providing an interpretive statement about their work. These statements are included on exhibition text panels and in the exhibition catalog.

Artrain USA has a very dedicated Project Team that has designed the Native Views Exhibit.

Native Views: Influences of Modern Culture is made possible in part through support from:

National transportation is provided by: