CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN SOCIETY

Connecting with Indigenous Communities through Indigenous Art Collections

James F. Brooks, Thursday, October 21, 2010

6pm, Margaret Morrison Carnegie Hall, Room A14

Dr. James F. Brooks, President, School for Advanced Research

The collections of the Indian Arts Research Center at SAR are considered to be one of the most remarkable assemblages of Southwestern Native art in the world. Representing a broad range of works, this valuable collection’s foundation initially was formed in 1922 as the Indian Arts Fund and has since grown to over 12,000 items, which are housed in two vaults in the IARC building. The stewardship of this collection continues to be a primary focus of IARC activities to maintain it for future generations.

As a research collection, IARC endeavors to connect people with the collection in various ways. Over the past five years, we have engaged in ambitious outreach projects to those communities represented in the collections, discovering in the process deep realms of heretofore unrecognized knowledge. Consultation with authorized, knowledgeable tribal officials or representatives helps increase IARC’s understanding about the collections and improve its documentation, while offering a place of inspiration for contemporary tribal members.

This illustrated talk will tell the history of the IARC collections and the ongoing transformation of their role in the relationship between a premiere research center, born of early 20th century anthropology, and that of 21st century Indigenous Peoples.