Native American Forces in Contemporary Art

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Metropolitan State College of Denver Center for Visual Arts presents:

Currents: Native American Forces in Contemporary Art
August 27th - November 7th, 2009

Artist talk & reception on August 27th
7pm - Gallery Talk with artists Nicholas Galanin & Melanie Yazzie
8pm - Public Reception

Free & open to the public

MSCD Center for Visual Art
1734 Wazee St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 294-5207

link: http://www.metrostatecva.org/current.htm

Currents: Native American Forces in Contemporary Art presents the work of seven contemporary artists engaging in a cross-cultural dialogue regarding Native American legacies in the context of contemporary art.

The wide range of expression found in Currents reveals the futility of attempting to confine Native American artists to one category. A common thread, however, is found in the exploration of cultural identity, traversing between native heritages and life in the twenty-first century. These artists neither exist nor create art in the vacuum of a singular society, but flow through the many influences of contemporary life and art.

These practitioners challenge the notion of a Native American style of art frozen in the past. While honoring glimmers of traditional themes, culturally ambiguous strategies are utilized, blurring the lines that attempt to define Native American art.

Artists: Norman Akers, Nicholas Galanin, Jeffrey Gibson, Jaune Quick-To-See Smith, Marie Watt, Will Wilson, Melanie Yazzie

Currents was curated by Cecily Cullen, Assistant Director / Curator, Center for Visual Art. Research assistance by Michelle Kimball, Metro State student and Jennifer Garner, Director / Curator, Center for Visual Art