New American Indian artist exhibit opens at Epcot

The new exhibit at the American Adventure in Epcot features 89 pieces of work from native American artists alongside artifacts from centuries past, demonstrating how ancestral craftsmanship influences modern age.

The “Creating Tradition: Innovation and Change in American Indian Art” exhibit opened at the American Heritage Gallery on July 27, 2018.

The items on display represent 40 different American Indian tribes from seven regions across the U.S.

“By showcasing artwork from so many diverse American Indian tribes, ‘Creating Tradition’ is a wonderful way to share a vital part of the United States’ culture with all those who visit The American Adventure,”  Melissa Valiquette, vice president of Epcot, said is a news release.

The exhibit also includes three interactive video exhibits where contemporary American Indian artists share perspectives on their work and culture. The music playing in the gallery is performed by Native musicians.

The collection includes:

• Fashion designer Loren Aragon (Acoma Pueblo) used the patterns on a jar made in the 1900s by an Acoma Pueblo potter as inspiration for his “Ancient Resonance” dress.

• A Pokagon Potawatomi black ash hamper basket, made in the early 1900s, is paired with modern baskets, exemplifying how this technique is maintained over centuries. For example, on display is “Mother’s Womb,” a basket made by Cherish Nebeshanze Parrish (Potawatomi/Odawa) in 2011.

• A Chilkat blanket from Alaska dating to the 1890s complements “Raven and the Box of Daylight,” a 2017 glass sculpture by Preston Singletary (Tlingit). This piece shows how Singletary experiments with designs from his Tlingit heritage in mediums beyond traditional Native materials.

“We hope Epcot visitors will see the American experience begins with the American Indians who have always been here,” Kevin Gover (Pawnee), director of the National Museum of the American Indian, said.

The exhibition is produced in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

During the next five years, the exhibition will feature new artifacts and refreshed displays, incorporating pieces from more of the 573 American Indian tribes recognized by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs (www.bia.gov).