Minnesota Anishinaabe artists well-represented at major new exhibition in Detroit

A stunning new exhibition of Anishinaabe art lately opened at the Detroit Institute of Arts features a strong showing of Minnesota-based painters sculptors designers and more Contemporary Anishinaabe Art A Continuation is the DIA s first major Native American exhibition in more than three decades featuring works by more than artists from the Great Lakes region of the U S and Canada The exhibition celebrates the contemporary visions and creativity of Native artists from tribes that call themselves Anishinaabe meaning original people including Ojibwe Chippewa who have seven tribes based in Minnesota and five in Michigan as well as the Ottawa Odawa and Potawatomi Pottawatomi people Denene De Quintal the DIA s assistant curator of Native American Art announced the museum needed to prioritize and elevate Indigenous voices and bring more contemporary artwork into the institution to reflect contemporary voices The curators translated the show s signage into Anishinaabemowin and visitors can access QR codes to learn different words in the language The exhibit spans painting beadwork fashion film and sculpture curated in collaboration with a panel of Anishinaabe artists including Duluth-based painter and filmmaker Jonathan Thunder Kelly Church Jason Quigno Monica Rickert-Bolter and Jodi Webster Thunder commented the panel s work was meticulous We went over every detail to make sure that the show was being approached with the proper vision he announced Frank Big Bear White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Anishinaabe Man Trapped in a Trickster s Web Credit Courtesy Detroit Institute of ArtsJim Denomie Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Four Days and Four Nites Ceremony - Credit Courtesy Detroit Institute of ArtsPatrick DesJarlait Red Lake Band of Ojibwe Maple Sugar Time Credit Courtesy Detroit Institute of ArtsLeft Jim Denomie Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Untitled Totem Painting Tia Collection Right George Morrison Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Grand Portage Band Totemic Column - On loan from the George Morrison Estate and Bockley Gallery Moira Villiard Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa The Waters of The following day Credit Courtesy Detroit Institute of ArtsAndrea Carlson Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Exit Credit Courtesy Detroit Institute of ArtsInstallation view Contemporary Anishinaabe Art A Continuation Credit Courtesy Detroit Institute of Arts Related In Our Hands an expansive display of overlooked Native photography at Mia Significantly the panel decided not to begin the show with historical works No one else has to start with an explanation of for example where European art came from De Quintal revealed Native American artists should be given the same ability not to start historically Minnesota artists make an immediate presence in the show Two large totems greet visitors one by th century abstract painter and sculptor George Morrison and the other by the late Jim Denomie a leading figure in the Twin Cities arts neighborhood known for his vibrant use of color Maggie Thompson Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa On Loving - Credit Courtesy Detroit Institute of Arts Artists like Delina White with her Anishinaabe couture and Maggie Thompson showcase practices that blend tradition and modern design Thompson s piece On Loving evokes white body bags during the height of the COVID- pandemic overlaid with star quilt motifs De Quintal noted These body bags which symbolize death also symbolize a beautiful moment in time where we re honoring the people who have passed One gallery sets works by Frank Big Bear whom De Quintal called foundational to Anishinaabe artistry alongside works by his son Star WallowingBull highlighting a familial theme carried throughout the exhibition The exhibition concludes with Andrea Carlson s Exit evoking highways and roadways evolved from prior pathways walked upon by Native Americans Related Continuing artist Jim Denomie s legacy of giving back Jonathan Thunder praised the quality of the show and disclosed he was thrilled to see Anishinaabe artists represented from across the continent They re coming from the Southwest up north in Michigan Minnesota Wisconsin certain from the city particular from the res It s just nice to look at everybody s practice During opening weekend Thunder gave a talk about his work Basil s Dream a x painting of a nightclub on the shores of gitchi-gami Lake Superior inspired by the Anishinaabe and Canadian writer Basil H Johnston Jonathan Thunder Red Lake Band of Ojibwe Basil s Dream Credit Courtesy Detroit Institute of Arts Minnesota s presence in DIA s exhibition testifies to the rich Native arts locality fostered in the state and shared throughout the country Maggie Thompson whose work was in recent days featured at the Smithsonian American Art Museum now has a solo exhibition at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts Santa Fe George Morrison s work is on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City Frank Big Bear and Star WallowingBull appear in Indigenous Identities Here Now Inevitably at present on view at Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University and Andrea Carlson s first museum survey A Constant Sky opened at the Denver Art Museum on October Contemporary Anishinaabe Art A Continuation is a major institutional moment born of collaboration and a commitment to contemporary Indigenous voices By featuring foundational and emerging artists particularly the strong contingent from Minnesota the DIA illuminates the ongoing innovation and excellence of Anishinaabe artistry For those unable to journey to Detroit the exhibition catalogue sells through Birchbark Books in Minneapolis The post Minnesota Anishinaabe artists well-represented at major new exhibition in Detroit appeared first on MinnPost