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October 30, 2009
Noted Photographer, Educator Will Wilson Selected to Oversee Vision Project
Contact:
Guin White, 505.428.5909
membership@iaia.edu
-or-
Staci Golar, 505.424.2351
sgolar@iaia.edu
The Museum of Contemporary Native Arts is pleased to announce that Will Wilson (Navajo) has been hired as the Vision Project Manager. He began his position October 20, 2009. The Vision Project is part of the Ford Foundation’s grant initiative “Advancing the Dialogue on Native American Arts in Society” that seeks to “provide national and international leadership in determining the role of Native American arts and culture while advancing education about contemporary Indigenous art in the twenty-first century.”
Wilson’s first task will be to manage the Vision Project’s publication which will feature Native artists from the United States who have made considerable contributions to contemporary Native art. To ensure that the book presents a cohesive history of the contemporary Native American art movement, 15 scholars will write up to four essays each on living artists who vary in age and media. The purpose of the book is to present contemporary Native artists in a new way to a wider audience of academics and scholars, art historians, college students, curators, contemporary museums and collectors of contemporary art.
Museum Director Patsy Phillips (Cherokee Nation) said “As an educator and artist, Will Wilson was a natural choice for the Vision Project. Not only does he bring experience in facilitating large projects, but he brings a strong visual perspective and background, as well. I’m so happy to have him on-board as the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts moves forward in creating its vision for the future while advancing the dialogue of contemporary Native arts. The Museum is grateful to the Ford Foundation for its generous support of this initiative.”
Wilson holds a master of fine arts degree in photography from the University of New Mexico. As an artist he has produced large scale multi-media installations that incorporate photography and sculpture, monumental public artworks and intimate photo essays. His “Auto Immune Response” series recently garnered him the prestigious Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Fine Art. As an educator, he has taught sculpture at the Institute of American Indian Arts and photography at both Oberlin College and the University of Arizona. From 2000-2005, Wilson was the co-director of the Barrio Anita Community Mural Project, the largest public art commission in Tucson, Arizona's history.
For more information about the Vision Project, please contact Wilson at wwilson@iaia.edu or 505.428.5904.
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About the Museum
Located in downtown Santa Fe, the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts is a center of the Institute of American Indian Arts. The Museum is dedicated to advancing the discourse, knowledge and understanding of contemporary Native arts. Founded in 1971, the Museum’s exhibitions, publications and educational programs challenge pre-conceived notions of contemporary art. The Museum of Contemporary Native Arts is home to the largest collection of contemporary Native art in the world. A premier shopping destination, the Museum’s store offers the finest selection of contemporary Native arts and gifts from both emerging and established artists.
Museum hours are Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday: noon to 5 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays from November through May as well as major holidays.
IAIA’s Mission
To empower creativity and leadership in Native arts and cultures through higher education, lifelong learning and outreach
Click here to download full press release in PDF format.
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