By: Dr. Farinzinga, Curator of African and Native American Collections at the Speed Art Museum, and Sirene Martin, Curatorial Intern
Photos provided by: Speed Art Museum
NEWLY EXPANDED AND REIMAGINED NATIVE AMERICAN ART Gallery
highlights new acquisitions and a rotating series of loans to amplify the voices of
contemporary Native artists and communities
Marking a major milestone in the comprehensive reinstallation of its permanent collection that began in 2022, the Speed Art Museum recently opened its newly expanded and reimagined galleries of Native American art.
With input from Native artists, curators and culture-bearers, The Speed Collects: Native American Art features works from the museum’s collection alongside new interpretive text, while also showcasing recent acquisitions and notable loans of modern and contemporary Indigenous art, and introducing new context and perspectives.
But why does this matter? Th e new installation signals the Speed’s updated approach to curating and displaying its Native American art collection, moving away from an ethnographic presentation to one that celebrates living artistic practice and presence.
Relocated to a larger and more central space within the Museum, the new Native American art galleries work in conversation with surrounding galleries of European and American art and creates a more vibrant and engaging visitor experience, bringing objects out of glass display cases and adding new interpretive text that foregrounds Native voices, including quotes from the artists themselves and contributions from Native curators and scholars.
“The Speed’s deep research and collaboration with Native communities throughout this reinstallation — establishing important relationships we will continue to invest in — exemplifies the authentic relationships and representation that we aim to bring to all aspects of our work,” said Speed Art Museum Director Raphaela Platow. “We look forward to welcoming visitors into this transformed space as we continue to strengthen the Museum’s role as a place of belonging, where visitors can see their identities and experiences reflected through art.”
First time on view
Highlights of the reinstallation include nine recent acquisitions and loans, on view for the first time that bring contemporary Native American art into the conversation, infusing the predominantly early 20th-century collection with a new array of later 20th- and 21st-century works spanning painting, textile, sculpture and works on paper.
Among the fi ve new acquisitions is, Th oughts And Prayers (2023) a work on paper by Chris Pappan, a Chicago-based artist of Osage, Kaw, Cheyenne River Sioux, and mixed European heritage. Four major loans from the Santa Fe-based Tia Collection, a painting by Linda Lomahaftewa (Hopi-Choctaw), a Din. dye chart by Vera Myers (Din.), a work on paper by Frank Big Bear (Ojibwe), and a painting by acclaimed artist, educator, and art historian Arthur Amiotte (Oglala Lakota) will establish a rotating series of works by contemporary Native artists, refreshed annually to bring new perspectives to the Museum.
This reinstallation has been guided by the awareness of our responsibility to showcase the breadth of Native American art in a thoughtful and intentional way — reconsidering what we display, how, and why; honoring the living context of ceremonial and collectively held objects; and bringing the voices of contemporary Native artists, curators, and scholars into the gallery directly. With the reopening of the galleries, we are excited about the possibilities of this new forum for meaningful programming and continued research in active collaboration with Native communities.
Relocation and New Recommendations
The Speed laid the groundwork for this reinstallation in 2023 with the decision to relocate the Native American art galleries, temporarily removing the collection from view in order to prioritize provenance research and establish relationships with Tribal leaders and liaisons, proactively opening up the entire collection for review to ensure respectful and appropriate display practices, as well as compliance with federal law, including the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Following the reopening of the galleries, the Speed will continue this ongoing dialogue, inviting Tribes to visit the Museum to view the collection firsthand for further consultation.
The Speed’s programming has already included curatorial gallery talks and a free Community Day last month that was intended to further inform the public about these artworks and the museum’s intentions. During the Community Day, for example, curator and educator, Dr. Meranda Roberts discussed how she has supported Speed’s work to identify objects to prioritize for NAGPRA consultation, guide research and interpretation efforts, and help connect the Museum with artists.
The reinstalled galleries enable the Speed to deepen its engagement with local Native communities and expand its community programming around Native American art, with an emphasis on artist talks and other programs led by Native culture-bearers.
With the new Native American art galleries, the Speed’s reinstallation initiative — the first major overhaul of its permanent collection since 2016 — is more than halfway to completion. Later this year, the museum will unveil The Speed Collects: Into a Modern World, reframing its celebrated 19th- and 20th-century collections around new thematic arrangements; a suite of contemporary galleries; and The Kentucky Gallery Reimagined, updating the display of its unrivaled collection of works by Kentucky artists to explore the diverse histories and artistic traditions of the Bluegrass state.
Guided by the Speed’s collaborative approach to curation and programming, the institution wide reinstallation places contemporary and historical works in new contexts to spark reflection and conversation around timely cultural issues. Across the reinstallation, the Speed is bringing 30% more art out of storage and highlighting new acquisitions, commissions, and loans, with a focus on artists who have historically been excluded from the canon.
To learn more about The Speed Collects: Native American Art, visit speedmuseum.org/from-the-speed-collection-native-american-art.
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