Native American Galleries

Expressions of Life: Native Art in North America

A Space for

Native Voices Now

The Eiteljorg has taken the initiative to change the way museums typically tell Native Americans’ stories by creating a space for the peoples themselves to tell their own stories. The capstone phase of Project 2021 was the complete reconstruction of the second floor Native American Galleries, showcasing Native art in a modern space. The galleries provide a contextual experience organized around the themes of relation, continuation, and innovation, demonstrating the continuum of Native art.

Art is an essential part of being. It has always been and continues to be a way for Native peoples to express, exist, persist, and resist.

The Native American Galleries

Working in tandem with our Native American Advisory Council, the Eiteljorg is committed to changing the way Native art is exhibited to provide focus on the voice and stories of the artists.

Land Acknowledgement that the Eiteljorg sits upon the lands of the Miami, Potowatomi, Delaware, Shawnee, Peoria and Kickapoo peoples

New spaces for artist / curator talks and other programming

An expanded focus on art from several tribes of the Great Lakes region

A new thematic approach connecting visitors with Native communities

Interactive and hands-on space

Introducing

New Acquisitions of the Great Lakes Region

In 2019, the Eiteljorg acquired an extraordinary collection of national importance, including hundreds of pieces of Native American art representing tribes of the Great Lakes region. This acquisition was made possible thanks to Lilly Endowment Inc. Acquiring this art and other significant acquisitions was a major step toward our vision of reconstructing and reinstalling the Native American Galleries.

Experiencing

Art in a New Way

New multimedia allows visitors to connect more personally and directly with the art. The galleries include a large interactive digital map wall of North America, artworks presented in all-glass cases viewable in 360 degrees, interactive touchscreens and activity tables, and downloadable audio descriptions of artworks.

Relation, Continuation, Innovation

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“Instead of using geographic regions to tell the stories, we’re relying on three themes of relation, continuation, and innovation. It’s really about Native voices and Native art telling the stories.”

Dorene Red Cloud (Oglala Lakota)

Associate Curator of Native American Art

Thank You to Our Partners:

Design and production by Origin Studios (Ottawa, Canada) and Kubik Maltbie (Boston, MA).

Construction by F.A. Wilhelm (Indianapolis)

 

Sponsored By:

National Endowment for the Humanities Logo
Terra Foundation for American Logo
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Logo

Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation, Inc.

Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation Logo
National Endowment for the Arts Logo
Lilly Endowment Inc Logo
Lilly Endowment Inc Logo

The new Native American Galleries are made possible by Project 2021.

Help bring the full vision to life.

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