{"id":167922,"date":"2023-10-04T09:29:21","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T09:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/culture.org\/?p=167922"},"modified":"2023-10-04T09:29:21","modified_gmt":"2023-10-04T09:29:21","slug":"indian-theater-rewrites-indigenous-art-history-through-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/culture.org\/history\/indian-theater-rewrites-indigenous-art-history-through-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"“Indian Theater” Rewrites Indigenous Art History Through Performance"},"content":{"rendered":"
Step into “Indian Theater” at Bard College’s Hessel Museum offers an innovative look at Indigenous art history, fusing performance and static art.<\/span><\/p>\n \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n Earlier this summer, Eric-Paul Riege, a Din\u00e9 artist, made art come alive in a whole new way at the Hessel Museum of Art. As visitors wandered through the gallery, they were met with a captivating scene: Riege weaving around his hanging fiber <\/span>sculptures<\/span><\/a>, embracing the pieces as if they were part of a performance. And that’s exactly what they were.<\/span><\/p>\n But here’s the kicker\u2014this show isn’t just about Eric-Paul Riege or his dynamic art. It’s an exhibition called “Indian Theater: Native Performance, Art, and Self-Determination since 1969,” and it’s doing something most shows don’t. Curated by Candice Hopkins, it challenges our ideas about what Indigenous art can be.<\/span><\/p>\n As you saunter through the exhibit, you’ll notice that the artworks range from sculptures and photographs to videos. But these aren’t just static pieces; they’re imbued with the living essence of Indigenous culture. This isn’t your typical art exhibit; it’s more like a living, breathing commentary on Indigenous life.<\/span><\/p>\n That’s not all. The art pieces are a manifestation of the duality that many Indigenous artists navigate daily\u2014being both a performer and an artist in their own right. Candice Hopkins carefully teases out the threads of how art and performance meld into the everyday lives of Indigenous peoples. The <\/span>exhibit<\/span> helps you grasp how the rituals, cultural symbols, and even clothing are both art and commentary on colonial history.<\/span><\/p>\n\r\n
The New Epicenter of Conversation: Bard College\u2019s Hessel Museum of Art<\/b><\/h2>\n
The Multifaceted Nature of Indigenous Art and Performance<\/b><\/h2>\n
The Rarity and Complexity: Why This Show is a Treasure<\/b><\/h2>\n