January 15, 2010
Media contact: Anne Russell
Cell: 604-798-3709
Office: 604-795-2826
anne.russell@ufv.ca
UFV-sponsored panel at The Reach to discuss politics of collecting indigenous artwork
From the Arctic to Africa, and Asia to Australia, the artwork of indigenous peoples has always been of interest to anthropologists, archaeologists, historians, and museum curators. But the process of acquiring the artwork for permanent collections or temporary shows has not always been equitable or culturally sensitive.
These days, curators are careful to walk a respectful path when working with indigenous peoples on museum exhibitions or collections. The process remains inherently political, however.
When Scott Marsden, curator of Abbotsford’s new Reach museum and gallery, wanted to mount an exhibition comparing beading practices of Yukon First Nations and the Ndebele of South Africa, he approached Dr. Jacqueline Nolte, acting Dean of Arts at the University of the Fraser Valley, because of her connections to the South African art scene. (Nolte emigrated from South Africa and is a former member of the board of the South African National Gallery.)
She helped Marsden connect with Carol Kaufmann-Bishop, curator of African Art at the Iziko South African National Gallery, and the Beadwork - Radical Practices exhibition was born. The exhibit will run in the great hall of the Reach from Jan 21 to March 21, with a special event on Jan 23.
“Because of the politics involved in collecting indigenous artwork, I suggested that UFV convene a panel discussion of the topic as a complement to the exhibition, so as to encourage a broader discussion o f cultural protocol and copyright,” notes Nolte.
The panel discussion runs from 1 to 3 pm on Saturday, January 23, and is preceded by a lunch reception at noon, and followed by a talk by Carol Kaufmann-Bishop on Ndebele beadwork from 3:15 to 4:30 pm.
Panelists include:
- Carol Kaufmann-Bishop, Curator of African Art, Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa.
- Dr. Miriam Clavir, Conservator Emerita and a research fellow at the UBC Museum of Anthropology, and Adjunct Professor in the graduate program in Museology at the University of Washington.
- Reynold Collins, Tsimshian carver
- Dr. James Young, Department of Philosophy, University of Victoria.
- Rikki Kooy, Slexlex Tcets' Nux enx, Spirit Elk Woman, Designer and Consultant
- Paula Cranmer-Underhill, 'Namgis/'Nlaka'pamux, Tourism Officer, Sts’ailes Development Corporation.
The public is welcome at this event, which is co-presented by the University of the Fraser Valley and The Reach Gallery Museum, Abbotsford.
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