Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place
Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place
Nancy Mahaney, curator
Gallery 318, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

Made possible by a grant from the Kansas Humanities Council, Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place features historical Native American art from the Spencer's collection. The exhibition also serves 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 is centered on American Indian cultural materials. Accompanying public programs and educational materials to tell the story of the native tribes relocated into and out of the state of Kansas.

Exhibition images

Works of art

unrecorded Chaticks si Chaticks (Pawnee) artist, bandolier
unrecorded Chaticks si Chaticks (Pawnee) artist, bandolier
unrecorded Chaticks si Chaticks (Pawnee) artist
bandolier
late 1800s–1980
unrecorded Chaticks si Chaticks (Pawnee) artist, otter skin necklace
unrecorded Chaticks si Chaticks (Pawnee) artist, otter skin necklace
unrecorded Chaticks si Chaticks (Pawnee) artist
otter skin necklace
mid 1800s–1880
unrecorded Wazhazhe (Osage) artist, fur turban
unrecorded Wazhazhe (Osage) artist, fur turban
unrecorded Wazhazhe (Osage) artist
fur turban
late 1800s–1980
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) or Numunuu (Comanche) artist, fur turban
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) or Numunuu (Comanche) artist, fur turban
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) or Numunuu (Comanche) artist
fur turban
late 1800s–1928
unrecorded Wazhazhe (Osage) artist, pair of child's beaded moccasins
unrecorded Wazhazhe (Osage) artist, pair of child's beaded moccasins
unrecorded Wazhazhe (Osage) artist
pair of child's beaded moccasins
late 1800s–1956
unrecorded Potawatomi artist, pair of beaded moccasins
unrecorded Potawatomi artist, pair of beaded moccasins
unrecorded Potawatomi artist
pair of beaded moccasins
1860s
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist, three-hide dress
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist, three-hide dress
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
three-hide dress
late 1800s–1928
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist, cradleboard
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist, cradleboard
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
cradleboard
late 1800s–1928
unrecorded Potawatomi artist, beaded sash
unrecorded Potawatomi artist, beaded sash
unrecorded Potawatomi artist
beaded sash
1930s
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist, dispatch case
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist, dispatch case
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
dispatch case
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Cheyenne artist, pair of child's beaded moccasins
unrecorded Cheyenne artist, pair of child's beaded moccasins
unrecorded Cheyenne artist
pair of child's beaded moccasins
late 1800s–2007
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist, strike-a-light bag
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist, strike-a-light bag
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
strike-a-light bag
late 1800s–1939
unrecorded Cheyenne, Ka’igwu (Kiowa), or Numunuu (Comanche) artist, parfleche
unrecorded Cheyenne, Ka’igwu (Kiowa), or Numunuu (Comanche) artist, parfleche
unrecorded Cheyenne, Ka’igwu (Kiowa), or Numunuu (Comanche) artist
parfleche
circa 1920
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) artist, roach headdress
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) artist, roach headdress
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) artist
roach headdress
early 1900s
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) artist, pipe bag
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) artist, pipe bag
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) artist
pipe bag
late 1800s–1975
unrecorded Cheyenne artist, club with stone head
unrecorded Cheyenne artist, club with stone head
unrecorded Cheyenne artist
club with stone head
late 1800s–1992
unrecorded Cheyenne artist, pair of beaded moccasins
unrecorded Cheyenne artist, pair of beaded moccasins
unrecorded Cheyenne artist
pair of beaded moccasins
late 1800s–1962
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) or Numunuu (Comanche) artist, club with stone head
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) or Numunuu (Comanche) artist, club with stone head
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) or Numunuu (Comanche) artist
club with stone head
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) or Sioux artist, pair of beaded moccasins
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) or Sioux artist, pair of beaded moccasins
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) or Sioux artist
pair of beaded moccasins
late 1800s
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) artist, beaded pouch
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) artist, beaded pouch
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) artist
beaded pouch
late 1800s–1879
unrecorded Cheyenne or Hinono’eino (Arapaho) artist, pair of beaded boots
unrecorded Cheyenne or Hinono’eino (Arapaho) artist, pair of beaded boots
unrecorded Cheyenne or Hinono’eino (Arapaho) artist
pair of beaded boots
late 1800s–early 1900s
unrecorded Numunuu (Comanche) artist, pair of beaded moccasins
unrecorded Numunuu (Comanche) artist, pair of beaded moccasins
unrecorded Numunuu (Comanche) artist
pair of beaded moccasins
late 1800s–1980
unrecorded Potawatomi artist, hair ornament
unrecorded Potawatomi artist, hair ornament
unrecorded Potawatomi artist
hair ornament
circa 1935
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist, pair of beaded moccasins
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist, pair of beaded moccasins
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
pair of beaded moccasins
late 1800s–1996
Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (1940–2025), What is an American?
Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (1940–2025), What is an American?
Jaune Quick-to-See Smith
What is an American?
2001–2003
unrecorded Cheyenne artist, knife sheath
unrecorded Cheyenne artist, knife sheath
unrecorded Cheyenne artist
knife sheath
late 1800s–2007
unrecorded Cheyenne or Lakota artist, beaded bag
unrecorded Cheyenne or Lakota artist, beaded bag
unrecorded Cheyenne or Lakota artist
beaded bag
late 1800s–1992
woman's wearing blanket, dance blanket
woman's wearing blanket, dance blanket
woman's wearing blanket, dance blanket
1900–1999
unrecorded Wazhazhe (Osage) artist, blouse
unrecorded Wazhazhe (Osage) artist, blouse
unrecorded Wazhazhe (Osage) artist
blouse
late 1800s–1910

Events

September 22, 2011
Talk
SMA curator Nancy Mahaney on Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place
10:00–11:00AM
Gallery 318
October 3, 2011
Talk
Exhibitions Highlight Global Indigenous Arts at the Spencer
2:00–4:00PM
Gallery 318, Gallery 404
October 6, 2011
Talk
Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place
5:45–6:00PM
Gallery 318
October 6, 2011
Screening
Visionmakers: Native Identity through Film: Reel Injun
6:00–8:00PM
309 Auditorium
October 29, 2011
Workshop
Movin’ Right Along
10:30AM–12:30PM
October 29, 2011
Workshop
Movin’ Right Along
1:30–3:30PM
November 3, 2011
Talk
Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place
5:45–6:00PM
Gallery 318
November 3, 2011
Screening
Visionmakers: Native Identity through Film: The Only Good Indian
6:00–8:00PM
309 Auditorium
November 10, 2011
Talk
Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place
5:45–6:00PM
Gallery 318
November 10, 2011
Screening
Visionmakers: Native Identity through Film: Who Owns the Past
6:00–8:00PM
309 Auditorium
November 30, 2011
Talk
Jolene Rickard on global aesthetics and indigeneity
6:00–8:00PM
309 Auditorium, Gallery 317 Central Court

Resources

Audio

Didactic – Art Minute
Didactic – Art Minute
Episode 241 Sep-2011, Braden Conrad-Hiebner I’m David Cateforis with another Art Minute from the Spencer Museum of Art. A current Spencer exhibition, Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place, explores themes of Native American movement, settlement and identity on the Great Plains. Relocation caused the loss of many Native American traditions; however, encounters between tribes provided inspiration for new cultural and religious practices. Reflecting such encounters is a pair of Potawatomi style moccasins characterized by large ankle cuffs, but decorated with beadwork from multiple styles. The moccasin’s foot and toe cap areas are decorated in a bi-laterally symmetrical, abstract curvilinear design reminiscent of a floral or woodland stylization. The ankle cuffs reveal a beaded geometric style. Extensive beading and festive colors suggest they were intended for a celebratory event. These moccasins are a fine example of style unification resulting from frequent relocations and encounters between Native American tribes. Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place was made possible through a grant from the Kansas Humanities Council and is on view through January 15. With thanks to Braden Conrad-Hiebner for his text, from the Spencer Museum of Art, I’m David Cateforis.