Made possible by a grant from the Kansas Humanities Council, Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place will feature historical Native American art from the Spencer's collection and serve as a companion and complement to "Heartland Reverberations," an exhibition of contemporary Native American art. Passages is presented as part of the Kansas Sesquicentennial, and the project has at its center American Indian cultural materials and accompanying public programs and educational materials to tell the story of the native tribes relocated into and out of the state of Kansas.
Exhibition Brochure
Public Programs
9.22.11
Gallery Talk:Senior Session: SMA curator Nancy Mahaney on Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place
10 AM / Asia Gallery
Nancy Mahaney, SMA curator of the arts and cultures of the Americas, Africa and Oceania, will speak on the recently opened exhibition Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place. This popular series of informal gallery discussions is designed for senior citizens but open to everyone.
9.29.11
Film:Visionmakers: Native Identity through Film: "Half of Anything" and "Sweating Indian Style"
6 PM / SMA Auditorium
Sponsored by Spencer Museum of Art and Kansas Humanities Council / The question, “What is a REAL Indian?” seems at first blush to be a simple question about identity. However, any question about identity is never simple.Half of Anything is a documentary in which four participants (Christina Entrekin, Sherman Alexie, Deborah Bassett, and John Trudell) examine the notion of how Indian identity is constructed from their individual and often very personal perspectives. (Director Jon Tomhave, 24 minutes)
The appropriation of Native American traditions by non-Natives comes under thoughtful scrutiny in this insightful documentary. As it follows the New Age activities of a group of Californian women learning to construct a sweat lodge and perform their own ceremony, it raises important questions about the use of elements of Native culture out of context, apart from the complex realities of American Indian experience. Interviews with diverse Native American women point out the problems inherent in this increasingly popular New Age phenomenon and its relationship to traditional forms of colonialism. (Director Susan Smith, 57 minutes, 1994)
In conjunction with Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place.
9.29.11
Gallery Talk:Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place
5:45 PM / Gallery 318
Join Chris Howell for a brief introduction to the exhibition as it relates to themes explored in the Passages film series.
10.3.11
Adult Class:KU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute:
2 PM / Central Court
Join Nancy Mahaney, Curator of the Americas, Africa, and Oceania, for a special viewing of the exhibition Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place, created on the occasion of the Sesquicentennial of Kansas’ Statehood to tell the stories of relocation on Kansas Territory through historical Native American materials, and the new balcony installation Roots and Journeys, which features works from the Spencer’s Global Indigenous Arts collection, exploring artistic inspirations gleaned from nature, heritage, and transcendent experiences. Enrollment required. Contact Continuing Education, 785-864-KUCE(5823), or kuce@ku.edu.
10.6.11
Film:Visionmakers: Native Identity through Film: "Reel Injun"
6 PM / SMA Auditorium
For more than a century, the film industry has depicted North American native people in a variety of ways -- many of them wildly inaccurate. Recently, however, that’s begun to change. In Reel Injun, director Neil Diamond captures both sides of the coin. Through interviews with a gallery of actors and directors, including Clint Eastwood, this documentary reveals the film industry’s impact on the experiences of native people in the United States and Canada. (86 minutes, 2009)
Introduction by Dr. Joni Thompson, Haskell Indian Nations University faculty.
Shown in conjunction with Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place.Sponsored by Spencer Museum of Art and Kansas Humanities Council.
10.6.11
Gallery Talk:Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place
5:45 PM / Asia Gallery
Join Chris Howell for a brief introduction to the exhibition as it relates to themes explored in the Passages film series.
10.20.11
Reception:Fall @ the Spencer
6 PM / Central Court
A celebration of the Spencer’s exhibitions. Sponsored by Spencer Museum of Art and Friends of the Art Museum.
10.27.11
Reception:SMA Student Night
6:30 PM / Central Court
Sponsored by Student Advisory Board and Spencer Museum of Art.
10.29.11
Children’s Art Appreciation Class:Movin’ Right Along
10:30 AM & 1:30 PM / Central Court
Examine objects that Native American people used to move their personal belongings during different seasons, then design, cut, stitch, and decorate your own parfleche—a Native American bag. Teacher: Cindy Sears, KU Alumna,MA, VAE / $
It Starts With Art!/ Children’s art appreciation classes for ages 5-14. To enroll, contact SMA Education Department, 785.864.0137 or smakids@ku.edu, or visit www.spencerart.ku.edu to enroll online.
11.3.11
Film:Visionmakers: Native Identity through Film: "The Only Good Indian"
6 PM / SMA Auditorium
Sponsored by Spencer Museum of Art and Kansas Humanities Council / Set in the early 20th century, when Native Americans were forced to attend boarding schools to assimilate with white culture, this provocative drama follows Charlie (Winter Fox Frank), a teenager who flees one such school to return home. Wes Studi is Sam Franklin, a Cherokee bounty hunter who has rejected his native people, charged with bringing Charlie back. Kevin Willmott directs this powerful film.(114 mintues, 2009)
Introduction by Kevin Willmott and Tom Carmody.
In conjunction with "Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place."
11.3.11
Gallery Talk:Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place
5:45 PM / Gallery 318
Join Chris Howell for a brief introduction to the exhibition as it relates to themes explored in the Passages film series.
11.10.11
Gallery Talk:Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place
5:45 PM / Asia Gallery
Join Chris Howell for a brief introduction to the exhibition as it relates to themes explored in the Passages film series.
11.10.11
Film:Visionmakers: Native Identity through Film: "Who Owns the Past"
6 PM / SMA Auditorium
Sponsored by Spencer Museum of Art and Kansas Humanities Council / This outstanding documentary relates the powerful history of the American Indian struggle for control of their ancestral remains. In 1990, after a long struggle between Indian rights groups and the scientific establishment, the Native American Graves Repatriation and Protection Act (NAGPRA) returned to Indian people the right to control the remains of their ancestors. (56 mintues, 2002)
Introduction by Chris Howell, Kansas Native American Tribal Liaison, Office of Governor Sam Brownback.
In conjunction with "Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place."
11.30.11
Lecture:Jolene Rickard
6:00 PM / SMA Auditorium
Sponsored by Spencer Museum of Art and Center for Global and International Studies / Jolene Rickard is Director, American Indian Program and Associate Professor, Departments of History of Art and Visual Studies, and Art, Society for the Humanities/Global Aesthetics Fellow 2010-2011 at Cornell University.
