HUNTSVILLE-Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass is a first-of-its-kind, groundbreaking exhibition giving broader and overdue recognition to a wide range of contemporary Native American and indigenous, Pacific Rim artists working in glass.
The stunning art in the exhibition embodies the intellectual content of Native traditions, newly illuminated by the unique properties that can only be achieved by
Carol Lujan, Dancing Dragonflies, 2018, Cast glass, 12” x 24” x ¼”, Images courtesy of Carol Lujan, Photo by Stephen Lang, © Carol Lujan.
working with glass. Whether reinterpreting traditional stories and designs in the medium of glass, or expressing contemporary issues affecting tribal societies, Native glass artists have created a content-laden body of work. These artists have melded the aesthetics and properties inherent in glass art with their cultural ways of knowing.
A secondary focus of the exhibition—a historical perspective—presents the fascinating story of how glass art came to Indian country, mainly through the pioneering work of Lloyd Kiva New (Cherokee), a founder of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), and of Dale Chihuly, who taught the first Native artists to work in glass. While Chihuly is not Native, he has long wielded a major influence on American Indian glass artists, and his own art has (in turn) taken inspiration from the designs and shapes of Native basketry and textiles. This comprehensive exhibition is the first of its kind to salute and document the sublime flowering of Native glass art.
Dr. Letitia Chambers
Clearly Indigenous includes over 115 glass art objects created by twenty-nine Native American artists, four Pacific Rim artists from New Zealand and Australia, and leading glass artist Dale Chihuly, who first introduced glass art to Indian country.
Dr. Letitia Chambers, former CEO of the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona, curated the exhibition together with artist and museum consultant Cathy Short (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (MIAC) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which originated this seminal exhibition.
The studio glass art movement began in the 1960’s and has developed into a significant genre of fine art. The contemporary Native American arts movement also began in the 1960s with the founding of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe. The book, Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass, tells the story of how these two movements came together in the 1970’s when Dale Chihuly, perhaps the best-known American glass artist and an innovator in the field, set up a glass art teaching program at IAIA. Over the nearly 50 years since, American Indian artists have created an extraordinary body of glass art. The Clearly Indigenous exhibit showcases the works of the leading Native glass artists.
The October 24th presentation, “New Interpretations of American Indian Cultures in Glass Art” will provide details on the coming together of these two movements and the reciprocal influence of Chihuly on Native glass art and of Native arts on Chihuly’s aesthetics. Several of the leading glass artists and their works will be featured and the primary influences on their glass art creations will be discussed. Whether reinterpreting traditional art forms or articulating contemporary issues, Native glass artists have created a rich body of work, melding the properties inherent in glass art with their cultural ways of knowing.
Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass was originated by The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Santa Fe, New Mexico. The traveling exhibit was curated by Dr. Letitia Chambers, and is toured by International Arts & Artists.
Organized by International Arts & Artists.
Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass with guest speaker Dr. Letitia Chambers
Preview Presentation and Reception: Thursday, October 24, 2024 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
6 PM presentation in the Great Hall
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM reception in the Richard & Roper Room and the Shields Gallery
Members: $40 | Non-Members: $65
Media Release/Sherry Brukner – Huntsville Museum of Art
