Indigenous Art Today – An Historical Path
ART7-5a-Wed1
Margaret Mukherjee
This course will take place virtually on Zoom. Participation requires a device (ideally a computer or tablet, rather than a cell phone) with a camera and microphone in good working order and basic familiarity with using Zoom and accessing email.
September 11 - October 9
Who are the indigenous artists today? What does their artwork tell us, and how has their artwork developed over time, particularly during the last two centuries? Our study seeks answers about indigenous art in this country and, also, importantly, changes in attitudes and stereotypes among both the indigenous people and Anglos. Along the way, we will view work by individual indigenous artists and wherever possible, their stories. Our study of indigenous art begins in the early 19th and early 20th centuries with Anglo depictions of Native Americans and Native Alaskans. Here, we look at the early work of several Anglo painters including Charles Bird King whose subjects were Native American leaders who had come to Washington for treaty negotiations.
Later, we find that indigenous artists in the 1980s are more aggressive in their work and themes, suggesting that their nations and cultures are still here and that they have their own perspectives to share. We note also the names of painters and photographers, including Shan Goshorn, Tom Jones, Red Star and Jaune-Quick-to-See Smith. Looking ahead we find that indigenous artists have become active in using art to support their nations, not hiding the “blemishes” but being forward looking. Jeremy Dennis, Sky Hopinka (also a filmmaker) and Cara Romero are among the artists we will study during this time. And lastly in our study, we view “indigenous visualities,” finding that indigenous artists have a different (they suggest “healthier”) way of being in the world.
More lecture than facilitated discussion.
All materials will be provided on a class website and by email links. Some optional background reading about indigenous peoples and their living in the 21st century will be listed.
About one and a half to two hours per week.
Margaret Mukherjee has enjoyed a long and varied career in higher education which has included working with other faculty at universities in eastern Europe and Asia. And along the way she has met regional artists and craftsmen and learned about their work, especially traditional hand-woven rugs. She holds a PhD in urban planning and a MA degree in textiles, clothing, and related arts. Her undergraduate degree is from Cornell University. She has led several other BOLLI courses on American art movements, the most recent one being “N.C. Wyeth, Illustrator and Painter.”