On a recent trip to DC, I stopped at the National Museum of the American Indian. This place is such a treasure—I always visit it, usually at the end of the trip as it’s closest to Union Station. Immediately, I feel the energy of peace in the space and relax. It’s a perfect last stop.
This museum blends history and creativity together, and honors the old traditions while also displaying contemporary artists. A perfect example of this was the exhibit Unbound:Narrative of the Plains, which featured both historical, ” hides, muslims, and ledger books” with over 50 contemporary works.
Making a Statement displays two gowns worn by Oscar nominated Lily Gladstone [Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfeet)/ Nimipuu (New Perce)] in an historic collaboration of Gucci with indigenous Joe Big Mountain (Mohawk/Cree/Comanchi) who brought his beadwork and porcupine quillwork to the fashion.
But, I spent the most time in a meditative trance, wandering through Sublime Light: Tapestry Art by DY Begay. DY Begay [Dine'(Navajo)] a fiber artist, lives with her husband in a hogan on the Navaho Reservation in NE Arizona, and has followed the tradition of her weaving ancestors for three decades in living a fully creative life.
For inspiration, she sits on her porch and looks at the land and the sky and finds her colors there. Simple. She makes some sketches and does some writing about her ideas. She shears the sheep, spins the wool, and hand dyes it, finding local plants and insects on the mesas to make into dyes. Everything she uses is in the natural world and right in front of her. I loved reading that when she got married, she lived in For Lee, New Jersey for seven years and hated it. No sky. I get that! Lots of cars, buildings, a river, and one big bridge, but no sky!
As I studied the work, I was mesmerized by the colors. Sometimes there are so many variations in the color—they vibrate, like Rothko’s work. He would sit and stare at his paintings for hours in meditation. Begay says that she paints with her yarn. They feel like paintings to me. And I could feel the meditative quality of the slow and steady process of doing everything naturally and by hand. The weaving, alone, on one piece could take 4-5 months.So, I slowed down. I took in the representations of her land, her home Tse’lani, her birthplace. A sunset, A sunrise. The mesas.
What an inspiration in so many ways. I’m so glad that native people are keeping their arts alive and I’m greatful that I have a place to go to honor it.
The museum is on my list to visit next time. I’m in DC. Thanks for the review.!
Hope you had fun!
So beautifully written. I’m inspired to visit this calming exhibit. Ahehee’
Thanks! Hurry on over-I think it’s closing in July.