Contemporary art is an exciting subject for any artist or art enthusiast. For years contemporary artists have been constructing works inspired by and speaking on identity, personal values and beliefs found within our modern societies. Living in a modern world we are exposed to many cultures, religions, backgrounds as well as our ever-advancing technologies. Contemporary art can have significant meaning to the viewer or bring about new thought processes; which is what makes it so important to our society and evolving art history. Contemporary works can be classified by its range in mediums, style, cultural influence or theory influence such as in feminist contemporary art. In this article I will be exploring the classification of Native American contemporary art theory, significant Native American artwork, and how it compares to feminist art theory.
As many other art theories, Native American art theory is driven by other sometimes unseen and unspoken struggles associated with being Native American in the art world. The issue is mainly formed by the lack of education as to what Native American Contemporary art is, and why it is important.
Thus far, Native American art has lacked recognition in the art world as “indigenous” became an official art term at the turn of the 21st century. This is relatively recent when considering that Indigenous cultures are amongst the oldest in the world. When considering this, it is easy to draw the conclusion that indigenous history is overall significant to all history not just within the arts.
Native American artists are amongst those who lack recognition in the formal art world alongside women and other minority groups. The problems associated with Native American contemporary art and artists stem from the preconceived stereotypes associated with Native Americans, and an idea that all Native American art is strictly traditional and can't be classified as contemporary. There is also a misclassification issue when it comes to distinguishing between what is considered Native American contemporary art compared to Western Indigenist modernism. I also found that there are issues with classifying when something is considered cultural appropriation.
In Indigenous Western art we see artists adopting aspects of indigenous cultures and ways of living in their works. For example, we have seen Native American influence in movies, mainstream media and designs for decades, however it is often misleading the viewer from what is truly valued in Native American communities and culture. This creates the stereotypes and a misunderstanding of Native Americans and what Native American contemporary art is. Amongst these stereotypes is the idea that Native Americans lack modernity in their work because they live a less modernized life in sovereignty. This in return makes it difficult for contemporary Native Artists to reach audiences in the formal art community such as in Art Galleries.
An example of a western indigenous artist would be Jimmie Durham, who has been accused of culture appropriation by many critics of art and others outside of the art world. Durham was an active artist in the US in the 60’s and 70’s and is well known in the Native American Art scene. Aside from adopting Cherokee aspects in his work he has also been called out many times for misrepresenting the Cherokee language, history and culture. In the past he has claimed to be Cherokee Native American but is not recognized by any of the three Cherokee nations. I believe Durham’s work represents Western indigenous art well due to it adopting inspiration from the culture, and himself living and working most of his life in Europe. I do not see making work like this as culture appropriation as many critics have been quick to do. I do agree with critics that claiming Native American decent to falsely verify your work is cultural appropriation. However, now Durham does not claim to be a Native American artist, but he is okay with being referred to as Cherokee. Perhaps due to his own adoption and admiration of the cultures. He has also been active in Native American movements in America over his career. To me, this shows an appreciation for the culture, not an attempt to appropriate the culture.
Native American Contemporary art is classified similarly to western indigenous work in the way that it adopts different cultured aspects. As opposed to western artists adopting Native American qualities, Native contemporary art is about the individual having a sense of place and connection to their own culture and land, as part of their identification. They may display qualities or themes rooted from tradition and values in their work. But Artwork created by a Native American artist that does not directly display visual aspects of culture may still be considered a Native American contemporary piece due to the artists sense of identity still being present. Overall Both western indigenous and Native American contemporary artists attempt to establish modern subjectivities by combining ideas and being inspired by life.
Native American art is unique because it has been being made for a very long time, as well as has been adopting new ways of creating along the way. Much like how the Native Americans have been integrated into modern American society overtime. Native Americans have adopted not only new ways of creating but have also been adapting to new ways of living for the past 100 years. There is a lot of untold history behind native Americans in America. That is part of the issue when it comes to understanding what classifies as native American modernism.
Traditionally speaking, when one thinks of native American art they might think of beadwork, regalia dance uniforms, pottery, weaving, quillwork, leather painting, perhaps even quilting. However, it is suggested that quilting was adopted from the settlers to this country in the late mid to late 19th century. Native Americans took a liking to the craft adding their own traditional designs. This is an example of how even some known “traditional” Native American art isn't completely traditional to them. In this case, Native quilting could potentially be considered contemporary or modernistic for that time. This is also significant when discussing what classifies as Native American contemporary art because it sets the tone of an ever changing history and adaptation of ways of living for Native Americans. This history and changes is forever being expressed in their works of art in the professional world.
In the 1960s and 70’s Native American artists began to define their own styles in the professional art world and at institutions. The Native American institute of arts was founded in 1962 and housed many significant artists in the Native Art community at this time. This time period was also significant for Native American artists as they began developing new definitions associated with Native American art and history. Native American artists along with other contemporary artists were creating politically significant art. The artists were working with a variety of mediums while fusing history and current events to bright light to and fight issues dealing with sexism and racism. Their goals were to deconstruct stereotypes associated with the mainstream medias representation of minority, and women identities.
The Native American artists at this time were dedicated to maintaining community ties while expanding their works by collaborating with other artists of color and minorities groups.
Amongst contemporary artists active in the 60s and 70s was Linda Lomahaftewa who was a painter and printmaker. Her work is known to reflects her Native American roots with using old family photographs as collage elements as well as containing designs from her heritage. She combines these elements with printmaking and other mediums.
Phoebe Farris is an artist who was active in the 80’s. She displayed art exhibits that consisted of slides documenting Contemporary Native American culture in the mid and late 80’s. She traveled to many powwows and cultured events interacting the communities on reservations east of the Mississippi river. Her photographs showed Native Americans in traditional regalia and in normal street clothes interacting at the powwows. This was to bring light to the diversity on reservations. Her photographs also documented Native American villages in the early 90’s that have a timeless quality due to the photographs showing traditional homes still on two reservations. The color of the photographs is what reminds the viewer of how modern the image is.
During the 1990s many Native American Contemporary artists along with other ethnic and racial groups, were at odds with making art that sells in the mainstream for a paycheck or maintaining tribal and political influence. However, most of the Native American artists working continued to identify with their community ties. Phoebe Farris who was still active showing work at this time commented that many of them showed in “national and international coalitions with other peoples of color” at that point in time.
In the 2000s Native American artists seemed to have a broadening view themselves of what constitutes as Native American art. A relevant Native Artists active at that time was Kay Walking Stick , she commented that
"My wish has been to express our Native and non-Native shared identity. We humans of all races are more alike than different, and it is this shared heritage, as well as my personal heritage, that I wish to express. My goal has always been to paint about who I am as a 20th/21 st century artist, and also as a Native American. My thoughts on our native history filled my work for many years. Today, I deal with feelings and thoughts common to all.".
Walking Stick painted landscapes as she conceptualized what the earth and land represent metaphorically. Her process was an expression of feelings as well as intended for the viewer to express their own personal feelings through viewing. She didn’t begin drawing figures in her paintings until she felt justified metaphorically seeing herself represented in her landscapes.
Most modernly there seems to be a disconnection within the Native American communities not only on what is considered Native American art but what issues are important to natives. Such as cultural appropriation, preserving culture, and political issues associated within the tribes.
In recent years there has been more attention brought to “cultural appropriation”. One common subject associated with this issue regarding Native Americans is dressing up as one on Halloween or other occasions regardless of if you are Native American or not. I believe this stems from it being disrespectful to wear your traditional regalia outside of a ceremonial or powwow setting. Most Native Americans active in the mainstream discussions on social media and other outlets seem to see this as an offensive action.
Kaitiln Bennet is a modern activist who is not Native American but speaks out on many political subjects associated and not associated with race. Bennet dressed up as a Native American and visited college campuses to record the reactions of the students. She received very negative feedback from most of her interactions. This however was not her intended purpose of this performance art. She was using this as a gateway to discuss how political candidate Elizebeth Warren had lied on some of her official college documents in the past claiming to be Native American. She had attended a few notable colleges including the Harvard school of law. Despite this being the purpose of her performance, she still received negative feedback as most of the people interviewed still saw the costume as being significant to Native culture appropriation. What made this even more of an interesting video was the fact that she was accompanied by an African American friend who was painted with a white face and dressed up as a cowboy. Most of the people who were offended by the Native American costume did not react or think that the white face paint was offensive.
Native American art is arguably a subcategory of Feminist art, or even could be used interchangeably at times. They both are similar in physical and historical qualities as well as in motives. Women have been at the forefront of most major Native American artist advancements mostly due to the value put on the women's place in Native American families and communities. Feminism fights for equality amongst all and to break down the walls of patriarchy which is often the root of the struggles and serotypes faced when discussing Native art and culture.
There are also similarities between how the work is executed such as multiple mediums being used to express views. They both are a critiqued form of artwork that receives backlash from the public. The work also at times needs to be exaggerated to get their voice heard or opinions across. Reversing roles and exaggerating them is common in the feminist art community to bring light to unspoken issues. Bennet did this when using her costume as a conversation starter on the college campuses. Native American art has done this similarly by making work that sometimes reflects their alienation from western culture, to criticize the barriers that cause this. What is most significant about both the feminist art movements and native American art movements is that the artists refused to compromise their work motives when working for their rightful place in art history. In conclusion Native American art can be classified as modern and contemporary, as well feminist art at times.
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