K. Wilks on wed 9 jul 97
I am working on the Alternative Gallery exhibits during NCECA 98, and was
wondering if there is any interest in having an exhibit of American
Indian work - mainly dealing with the history aspect but possibly having
a few prominent contemporary ceramists also on view. Does anyone know of
such collections and who might like to curate the show? Please e-mail me
regarding this at kw501@juno.com .
Thank you, Kelley Wilks
Sandra Dwiggins on thu 10 jul 97
Please tell me why prominent American Indian ceramic artists should be
in an Alternative Gallery? Also, why does the history of American Indian
ceramics belong in an alternative gallery---since we have borrowed so
much from this history for contemporary work? Same goes for African
ceramics, African american ceramic artists.......
Sandy
Cathie Feild on thu 10 jul 97
In a message dated 97-07-09 09:11:25 EDT, you write:
<< I am working on the Alternative Gallery exhibits during NCECA 98, and was
wondering if there is any interest in having an exhibit of American
Indian work - mainly dealing with the history aspect but possibly having
a few prominent contemporary ceramists also on view. Does anyone know of
such collections and who might like to curate the show? Please e-mail me
regarding this at kw501@juno.com .
Thank you, Kelley Wilks >>
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Kelley asks that people reply to her privately, but I wanted to share my
thoughts with the list. I'm not a member of NCECA, never even heard of it
until about 4 months ago, and I don't know what the "Alternative Gallery" is,
but this post is one of several recent events that have made me think that
Native American pottery is thought of as an "afterthought" or a curiousity
rather than a rich part of American craft tradition.
Recently I visited the National Museum of the American Indian in New York
City (the first of several Smithsonian institutions dedicated to the American
Indian, with a museum to open on the mall in Wash., DC in a couple of years).
They have an incredible display of Native American culture and craft. Much
of the exhibit contains masks and clothing, and there is some pottery. In
the museum shop I purchased a book called, "Fourteen Families in Pueblo
Pottery," by Rick Dillingham. (This is apparently un update of a 1974
exhibit called "Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery" that was held at the
Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico in
Albuquerque.) The book is filled with page after page of beautiful pots made
by Native Americans with photos of the artists and short statements from them
about their lives and work.
When I was at the Renwick Gallery recently, I noticed that there weren't any
pieces of Native American pottery or other craft displayed. How can a
national gallery dedicated to American craft not have any representations of
NATIVE AMERICAN craft? Why should it even be necessary to ask if there is
any interest in having a display of Native American work at NCECA? This is
nothing against Kelley Wilks who is only reflecting an obvious bias in
mainstream American thought, but this has touched a nerve. Why do we spend
so much time studying and exclaiming over pottery from ancient civilizations
of Greece, Rome, Egypt, Asia, and even present-day African villages, and have
such apparent disinterest as a society in the rich craft traditions of the
original inhabitants of our own country? This is a sincere question, not a
rhetorical one. Thoughtful replys are welcome. Thank you.
Cathie Feild
cfeild@aol.com
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