Tuesday's Tweevenings Explains Why Contemporary Native Art in the Northland Differs from the Southwest

Blue Otter in Red Water; Karen Savage-Blue

Wendy Savage addresses attendees this past Tuesday eve. 

Tuesday evening I attended a very special presentation by Wendy Savage on the current Intersections exhibition at the Tweed Museum of Art on the campus of UMD. It was the best attended Tweevenings talk since I have been attended maybe five years ago. (Full Discolsure: I have missed a few so that assertion may be incorrect... It was the best attended of those I have participated in these past five years.)

Ken Bloom welcomed us, made a few remarks about this exhibit, and then introduced Wendy Savage, an adjunct professor here at UMD who received her BFA at the University of Wisconsin.

Detail from John Feather's The "Don't Remember" Bar

Like many speakers who are enthusiastic about their subject matter, Ms. Savage was overflowing with potential directions her talk could go. The began by sharing the creation story by Gitche Manitou (the Great Spirit) and talked about our power to dream. She shared several idea fragments while providing an overview of the history of the relationship between native peoples and the United States.

For me, the absolutely fascinating part of her talk was the story behind why the Native art scene is so very different here from the Santa Fe / Southwest art, which I personally liked but found somewhat cliche in the sense that it seemed to "define" what Native art should look like. In covering the many expressions of Native artists here in the Northland these past eight years or so, I have felt that there was something unique going on, but I did not know the why.

Carl Gaboy, one of the influential and respected artists of our region, felt that "Southwest Art" should not be embossed on the Native art here. There were discussions, and George Morrison, a nationally recognized artist, met with some other leading artists to address this issue. The result was an Ojibwa Art Expo, the first native American Exhibition run by and for Native Americans.

But, you say, didn't the Native Americans run the SW arts scene? No. And that was the Aha! takeaway.

Untitled oil on canvas by George Morrison. 

What I was seeing here in the Northland scene was an art informed by Native roots, but that incorporated all kinds of expressions, like various flavors of tea, aromatically enhanced by herbs and spices from all over the world. There has been a liberation from what the art is "supposed" to look like, while still remaining distinctive.

After her general remarks, Wendy Savage led a walking tour around the gallery hall and discussed the individual artists and their works.

The art on display is all part of the Tweed Collection, which now has upwards of 11,000 pieces. It is an exhibition curated by Dr. Karissa Isaacs of the Bad River Ojibwe Band. The 19 Minnesota artists are connected with a variety of tribes from the Upper Midwest. The images on this page are all from the current show, which really ought to be visited sometime this coming year.

Detail from Dyani White Hawk's Quiet Strength Series. (Oil on canvas)

Wendy Savage discusses Dyani White Hawk's painting.

Because words can be often insufficient, I recommend visiting the Tweed for this, and several other featured exhibits, including Anne Labowitz's 122 Conversations.

Related Links
Review of Intersections Opening Reception
Review of Steve Premo's "Free the Slave -- Slay the Free"

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

Local Art Seen: DAI Biennial and Highlights of the North Shore Bank of Commerce Collection

North River I, by Cameron Zebrun.

A month ago I was installing several of my paintings at The Break Room, a new place on Fourth Street downtown that's brought a whole new vibe to the place where the old Twins Bar used to be. I got into a conversation with a bartender there who is new to Duluth, having come here from Portland or somewhere up in the Northwest. He made the observation that there's a percolation taking place in the arts scene here, the kind that precedes something big emerging. There's an electric vibrancy under the surface, he said, like a breaking dawn, not a twilight like other places he's been.

Thursday night this sense was fully in evidence at the Duluth Art Institute 60th Arrowhead Regional Biennial which was held in conjunction with the Biennial-Themed Collection at the North Shore Bank of Commerce. The Biennial showed us the variety, strength and sensibilities of our current crop of artists while John Steffl, who curated the North Shore Bank show, pulled out all the stops to make it evident that this town has had a vibrant art scene long before now. The artists who have contributed so much locally have laid the foundations for the rest of us who strive to make a contribution to the arts community going forward.

Earth Scraper by Susan Kachor Conlon

The DAI's Arrowhead Regional Biennial—the longest running biennial in the Midwest—is a juried show assembled this year by Diane Mullin, Senior Curator at the Weisman Art Museum at the U of MN in Minneapolis. The reception took place from 4 - 7 in the DAI John Steffl Gallery and Great Hall of the Union Depot. The Biennial included prizes sponsored by Lizzard's Art Gallery & Framing ($250), CPL Imaging ($500) and the North Shore Bank of Commerce ($1000).

The DAI's interim director Dana Mattice thanked the sponsors and introduced juror Diane Mullin who acknowledged the challenges of selecting the final works to be displayed. The diversity of contributions was only a part of that challenge.

It was intended to be an "evening to remember" and for those who were out last night it was indeed that. The 2014 Arrowhead Biennial featured artists from the entire Midwest including Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada. Mediums included photography, sculptures, mixed media and painting. It's considered and important show and inclusion can be a significant moment in the career of featured artists. The exhibit, now on display through February 15, 2015, features 26 works of art.

George Morrison paintings and drawings created a buzz.

In addition to the Biennial, the George Morrison Gallery featured a George Morrison exhibition, which I considered surprisingly impressive and very different from what I expected. The Hallway Gallery features Jo Wood's Meaning of Home.

In short, there's much to see if you can find a way to get down to the Depot and/or to the North Shore Bank on Superior Street.

The photos on this page are from the Duluth Art Institute event. Tomorrow I'll share pictures from the fabulous collection at the North Shore Bank of Commerce.

Collage 4 (Family Memories) by Carmen Gutierrez-Bolger

An abstract expression by George Morrison.

DON'T FORGET tonight's art events... An opening reception for Broc Allen and Michael Smith at the New York Building in Superior, 5-7 p.m. It's a new Phantom Galleries show with what is certain to be some exceptional work.

At Trepanier Hall be sure to see Leah H. Yellowbird's show in the Gimaaji Building (former YWCA). Over at the PROVE Gallery on Lake Avenue this month's theme is Plys with Purpose. And up top of the hill Lenore Lampi's 2-Day Holiday Sale. Why wait till Black Friday to start your Christmas shopping.

Speaking of Christmas... it's never too early to order copies of my new children's picture book for your children or grandchildren. It's A Remarkable Tale from the Land of Podd.

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Engage it.