Powerful Images and Native Stories Fill Main Hall at the Tweed

Free the Slave--Slay the Free. Steve Premo. Bringing perspective to history.

Sleeping Indian. David P. Bradley (Click to enlarge)

Whatever stereotypes you have about Native American art, they will be both affirmed and dispelled by this year's Intersections exhibition at the Tweed Museum of Art at UMD. Affirmed: references to and symbols from Native culture abound, tributes to roots, even the colors frequently seem from a specifically native heritage, earth tones and a palette that resonates with its own community of colors. Dispelled: the myth that Native art is a separate entity apart from and unaware of contemporary culture. Dispelled: that Native art means any singular style.

The power emanating from many pieces is directly because of an artist's awareness. Check out David P. Bradley's Sleeping Indian, a contemporary re-telling of Rousseau's Sleeping Gypsy. Powerful. Steve Premo's Free the Slave--Slay the Free is like a body slam. There's beauty, humility and strength in the works on display, as well as evocative craftsmanship.

The exhibition features work from the Museum’s collection, with contemporary artworks by 19 Minnesota-based Native artists, including George Morrison, Jim Denomie, Patrick DesJarlait, Carl Gawboy, Dyani White Hawk, and Andrea Carlson, among others whose artworks have continued to influence each other in recent decades. It was organized in consultation with Anishinaabe artist Jim Denomie and includes Manifest'o, a multi-media installation by Jonathan Thunder.

Crane Helper. Joe Geshick.

"I think it's exciting that Indian artists filled this place," the respected Carl Gawboy said to me early in the evening. Leah Yellowbird, whose Dances with Sweetgrass is also featured in the show, said, "It's absolutely stunning," noting that there were artists here whom it was nice to see because they don't come out much.

Dances with Sweetgrass. Leah Yellowbird

After a half hour of mingling and taking in the work, a half-hour program began with a welcome by Ken Bloom, quite enthused about this show which had been curated by Dr. Karissa White. Dr. White then shared a few remarks followed by Jim Denomie, a Native artist from South Minneapolis who wanted to pursue art when young but was discouraged from it because "there's no money in it." After 20 wasted years Denomie returned to school whereupon his passion for painting was re-awakened.

Jonathan Thunder, also from Minneapolis, was last to speak. He was struck by the heritage of this area. The name Mesaba comes from the Ojibwa, meaning Land of Giants. "This region has a story that giants lived here long ago." It is a special place and not to be taken for granted.

Thunder noted how the Tweed has made a conscious effort to de-colonize the collection. He had the opportunity to walk through the vault, so to speak, and see everything here. "I saw stories in the art there." This is what Thunder's art has always been, drawing from his heritage, flavored with a contemporary awareness.

Chippewa Fancy Dancer. Patrick Desjarlait

Vaster Empire. Andrea Carlson.

Speakers share the background and importance of the work. 

Jonathan Thunder (center) His new work generated buzz.

The Intersections exhibition will be on display thru August 2019. There are many stories here and if able you should come experience them. Here are a few of the pieces that are on display now. 

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Get into it.