Carnegie Mellon University
October 21, 2010

Connecting with Indigenous Communities through Indigenous Art Collections

Connecting with Indigenous Communities through Indigenous Art Collections

Thursday, October 21, 6:00 PM Margaret Morrison A14

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

The Indian Arts Research Center at the School for Advanced Research houses one of the most remarkable and diverse assemblages of Southwestern Native art in the world. Initially formed in 1922, the collection has since grown to over 12,000 items.

The 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 to increase the IARC’s understanding about the collections, while providing access to a place of inspiration for tribal members.

This illustrated talk will tell the history of the IARC collections and their ongoing transformation. In so doing, it will consider the changing relationship between a premiere research center—one born of early 20th century anthropology—and the 21st century indigenous peoples represented in its collections.