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Kevin Red Star, Crow
“Bird Shield,”
1966
Mixed media, 25” x 42 1/2”
IAIA Museum Collection: CR-41 |
The origin of the IAIA Museum permanent collection reflects the multiple
perspectives of a vital Native American artistic community, the Institute
of American Indian Arts. During the initial acquisition phase (1962
– 1971), the collection grew out of an administrative effort to
collect samplings of student works. Faculty members, including Fritz
Scholder (Luiseño), Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache) and Ralph
Pardington selected the strongest pieces made by students in their respective
studios. This growing collection of student work was used for local
and national traveling exhibitions that were intended to both honor
the artistic achievements of the students and to demonstrate the educational
successes of the Institute. Some of the acquisitions from this period
include the works of T.C. Cannon (Caddo/Kiowa), Bill Soza (Cahuilla/White
Mountain Apache), Earl Biss (Crow), Linda Lomahaftewa (Hopi/Choctaw),
Kevin Red Star (Crow) and Karita Coffey (Comanche).
In 1971, the newly established IAIA Museum began purchasing works from
students for an established flat-rate fee; this acquisitions practice
continued until 1989. Pieces from the collection, which had been dispersed
throughout the IAIA campus, were centralized at the new Museum. At this
time, the first inventory was also conducted. This formal approach to
the IAIA Collection was the result of several factors. First among these
was the Institute’s decision to establish a museum training program
at IAIA. The museum training program was in response to an increasing
interest among indigenous nations to create tribally governed and operated
cultural centers and museums. The collection at the IAIA Museum was
perceived as an ideal teaching tool for young Native students to learn
about collections care practices. In addition, a growing understanding
of the overall artistic caliber of the collection and of the inspired
creative direction of the students, generated a heightened respect for
the IAIA Collections. During these middle years (1971 – 1989),
the Museum acquired works by Marcus Amerman (Choctaw), Charlene Teters
(Spokane) and Diego Romero (Cochiti Pueblo), to name a few.
Today, the Museum continues to acquire new works by IAIA students, faculty
and other prominent Native American artists. In addition, donations
of Native American art that reflect the historical roots of contemporary
indigenous art and that can be used for study and research are occasionally
accepted. During the last decade and a half, major works have been added
to the collection from artists such as Denise Wallace (Chugach/Aleut),
Laura Fragua-Cota (Jemez Pueblo), Shonto Begay (Navajo), Dan Namingha
(Hopi/Tewa) and Tony Abeyta (Navajo).
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