Project Files, 2007-2009

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Summary

This accession consists of records which document the work of the Media Development Department on various projects at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). The first and most heavily documented project is "Always Becoming." During the summer of 2007, artist Nora Naranjo-Morse (Santa Clara Pueblo) built a family of clay sculptures on the grounds of NMAI in Washington, D.C. Naranjo-Morse entitled her work, "Always Becoming," and the five sculptures, ranging in height from seven and a half to sixteen feet tall, greet visitors from among the tall grasses on the south side of the building. Naranjo-Morse worked with her niece Athena Swentzell Steen and her husband Bill Steen, who are experts at building structures with natural materials such as straw bale; as well as with the family of Don Juan Morales (Tepehuan) from Durango, Mexico to create the sculptures. Documentation includes video and images of the creation of the sculptures; video interviews of the artists and NMAI staff; recordings of Native American songs; video narrations by the artists; music recordings; graphics; podcast recordings; and website files. The next project documented is "Live Earth." Live Earth is a for-profit company which uses events, media, and live concerts to promote a global movement aimed at solving environmental issues. The records found here document the special concert event called, "Mother Earth," which took place on the grounds of NMAI in Washington, D.C. on July 7, 2007 and featured musical performances and speakers from the scientific and American Indian cultural communities in the spirit of the Live Earth message. Documentation includes video recordings of the music performances and speakers as well as graphics used in editing. The last project documented is the DVD for the publication, "Most Serene Republics: Edgar Heap of Birds." Edited by Kathleen E. Ash-Milby and Truman Lowe, this book was published in conjunction with the exhibition, "Most Serene Republics," which was organized by the National Museum of the American Indian and first presented as a collateral project of the 52nd International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale in Venice, Italy (Biennale di Venezia), from June 6 to September 30, 2007. Cheyenne/Arapaho artist Edgar Heap of Birds is best known for his public art installations and this book examines his interest in the creation of republics or nation states through acts of aggression, displacement, or replacement of populations and cultures. The DVD features conversations with the artist and footage of his work in Venice. Documentation includes maps of the art installation sites; music recordings; images of artwork and the artist; video recordings of the art installation; and DVD production files. Materials include videos of artists, interviews, performances, and art installations; images; music recordings; graphics; maps; DVD production files; and other related records. All materials are in electronic format.

Subject

  • Ash-Milby, Kathleen E
  • Heap of Birds, Edgar
  • Lowe, Truman 1944-
  • Naranjo-Morse, Nora 1953-
  • Steen, Athena Swentzell 1961-
  • Steen, Bill
  • Morales, Don Juan
  • Live Earth (Firm)
  • Biennale di Venezia
  • Always Becoming (Exhibition) (2007- : Washington, D.C.)
  • Most Serene Republics (Exhibition) (2007: Venice, Italy)
  • Mother Earth (Concerts)

Notes

For a description of the record series of which these materials form a part, refer to the "Forms part of" above.

Organization

Unarranged

Repository Loc.

Smithsonian Institution Archives Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507; 600 Maryland Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20024-2520

Date

  • 2007
  • 2007-2009

Restrictions & Rights

Restricted for 15 years, until Jan-01-2025; Transferring office; 08/25/2009 memorandum, Toda to Davis; Contact reference staff for details

Topic

  • Ethics
  • Outdoor sculpture
  • Art
  • Music
  • Concerts
  • Ecology
  • Museums
  • Artists
  • Conceptual art
  • Environmental responsibility
  • Global environmental change
  • Indian artists
  • Indian art
  • Museum publications
  • Music--Performance
  • Public art
  • Site-specific installations (Art)
  • Site-specific sculpture

Place

  • Italy
  • Venice

Form/Genre

  • Digital images
  • Collection descriptions
  • Interviews
  • Electronic records

Local number

SIA Acc. 09-229

Full Record

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