The waterfall of woven baskets tumbled from the ceiling, a continuous cascade of artistry literally spilling through the Eiteljorg Museum gallery.
Nearby, a collection of colorful weavings whirl upwards as if part of a cyclone. Delicate pottery flows down a display like a river. Gleaming silver and turquoise jewelry hangs from the branches of stylized tree.
Unlike art exhibitions where everything is behind glass cases, these works dominate the space.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“It makes it more dynamic. It’s not so academic. It gives it more life,” said Jennifer Complo McNutt, curator of contemporary art at the Eiteljorg.
Those behind “A Sense of Beauty: Showcasing the Power and Beauty in Native Art” want people to not only observe stunning examples of Native American art, but to experience them fully. The comprehensive exhibit focuses on both contemporary and historic Native artwork from across the country, portraying it in active, engaging ways.
Visitors will be able to observe weavings from the 1800s and Columbia River basketwork from the early 20th century. Modern artists working in video projection, glass, silver and other mediums will balance out the more traditional items.
The exhibit will put the beauty and mastery of Native artistry in perspective, a fitting mission as the Eiteljorg begins celebrating its 30th anniversary showcasing Western and Native art, Complo McNutt said.
“(Native American art) is powerful. It’s important. And Native American people are still here creating dynamic artwork,” she said. “This gives people a sense of the continuum of Native expression.”
This is a busy year for the Eiteljorg. The museum will be recognizing its 30 years in Indianapolis with a full slate of unique programing and exhibits that spotlight its importance in the national art scene.
The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art was founded in 1989 by Indianapolis businessman and philanthropist Harrison Eiteljorg, as well as a group of civic supporters. The museum’s mission was to inspire an appreciation and understanding of the art, history, and cultures of the American West and the indigenous peoples of North America.
Artwork included in the Eiteljorg includes pieces by artists ranging from T.C. Cannon to Georgia O’Keeffe to Frederic Remington to Andy Warhol. Of significance is the focus on contemporary Native pieces; the museum is considered to have one of the top collections in the country.
Programs such as the annual Indian Market and Quest for the West, a leading nationwide sale and show of new Western art, further set the Eiteljorg apart.
“We’re one of the unique institutions (in Indianapolis). We have an extraordinary museum of art, we have a great children’s museum, and a lot of many amenities. But not many cities have Western and Native American art, and very few in the East have this kind of art,” said John Vanausdall, president and CEO of the Eiteljorg.
On its 30th anniversary, the leadoff exhibit is “A Sense of Beauty,” which is comprised from the Eiteljorg’s own collection of artwork and helps show how much the museum has grown.
“This is an opportunity to have one of the best collections of Native art in the world on display,” Vanausdall said. “The original collection of Mr. Eiteljorg was a couple of thousand objects. We’re approaching 10,000 works of art now, primarily due to other collectors. The gifts to the museum that have built our collection are important to us, and much of that work is Native American work.”
Complo McNutt worked with other museum staff members to create the exhibit. Foremost was Scott Shoemaker, a member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the curator of Native American Art, history and culture, as well as Dorene Red Cloud, a Oglala Lakota and the assistant curator of Native American art.
Steve Sipe, director of exhibits and graphic design, worked with them to take an unconventional approach to the exhibit as they were planning it.
The idea was to design the exhibition in a way to maximize the way visitors interact with the art.
“Instead of having an exhibition where everything is underneath glass, we wanted to have an exhibition where you can really get up close and compare things, and think about the idea of, ‘What is beauty?’” Complo McNutt said. “Beauty really is different to different people.”
The exhibition is arranged offering wide-open views of the spacious gallery area. As the title of the exhibit implies, a major focus is the appearance of art.
“A lot of times, the Eiteljorg will think of things historically or culturally first. This time, we really wanted to think about the aesthetics — what does it look like? What makes it beautiful? What makes you want to look at it?” Complo McNutt said.
One of the most dominating pieces is “Okanagan IV,” which spans nearly an entire wall. Artist Joe Feddersen used 500 individual 12-inch-by-12-inch prints to complete a work inspired by Plateau tribes.
“Mythmaker,” by artist Jeffrey Gibson, is an imposing sculpture that resembles a tree and serves as a commentary on land inheritance and colonialism.
The “whirlwind” of woven blankets, “waterfall” of baskets and “river” of pottery are arranged to inspire movement, in addition to allowing visitors to compare different approaches to similar pieces of art.
“Rather than reading a label and laboring over the history or culture of a piece, people are able to come in, look at the piece, start to develop their aesthetic and take a look at where it comes from, then start doing their own digging. We hope it’s a very empowering show for people,” Complo McNutt said.
With the emphasis on beauty and look, designers did not want to overwhelm the exhibition with printed placards identifying each piece. Interactive touchscreens allow visitors to touch a particular image and learn the artist, the media used to make it and other information.
Other activities are even more effective at getting people involved. Outside the gallery space, a display allows people to make their own interpretation of beauty on a small square of paper and submit them to the museum. Those pieces will created a collage that will stay up throughout the run of “A Sense of Beauty.”
“This is a different kind of exhibit for us. This isn’t a place where you’re going to read label after label after label. You’re going to read a poem. You’re going to see beautiful art. You’re going to see it installed in a dynamic way,” Complo McNutt said.
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“A Sense of Beauty: Showcasing Power and Beauty in Native Art”
What: An exhibition showcasing rarely-seen works of Native American art arranged in eye-catching installations. The exhibition reflects the work of artists representing many cultures, regions and styles, in addition to underscoring the museum’s serious commitment to building a deep, significant Native art collection.
Where: Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, 500 W. Washington St., Indianapolis
When: Through Aug. 4
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday
Admission: $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $8 for youth
Information: eiteljorg.org
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