12.09.2009

LARRY McNEIL: Alaska Native Artist Exhibition Dec 10 Alaska House NYC

Larry McNeil, a Tlingit Artist at the start of the 21st Century
Photograph (c) T'naa McNeil /All Rights Reserved

"1491" From The Feather Series

Back in 1992, the 500 year anniversary date of when Columbus arrived on the shores of the Americas, a group of artists were asked by Theresa Harlan to participate in the Message Carriers exhibition that was graciously hosted by the Photographic Resource Center at Boston University. I used a feather as a metaphor for indigenous identity and really love it that the media is black & white film because it referenced the world culture of 1992 so well. It represents the future denied us in 1491- a reminder that indigenous people still have a future that we can make our own. All of humanity for that matter. I like to think of it as kind of like a photograph on a blank page for you to fill in with how you imagine yourself to be.

YUPIK LADIES SERIES
Vintage Photograph (c) Larry McNeil
/All Rights Reserved


YUPIK LADIES SERIES
Vintage Photograph (c) Larry McNeil /All Rights Reserved

YUPIK LADIES SERIES
Vintage Photograph (c) Larry McNeil /All Rights Reserved

"I find myself simply wondering how humanity would have evolved had the humans indigenous to the Americas been allowed to continue to evolve without European interference. Can you imagine a world not in the midst of a human- induced ecological melt-down?"

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LARRY McNEIL, Tlingit/Nisgaa, was born in 1955 in Juneau, Alaska. He's won numerous awards for his photography, including the National Geographic "All Roads Photography Award", the prestigious "Eiteljorg Fellowship" and the "New Works Award" from En Foco. His biography goes on to say "his photographs are about American Mythology, Ravens, the intersection of cultures, and finding the sacred in unlikely places. It is about the sacred not being for sale, but being able to be rented at reasonable rates. It is about being able to fly by night."

Eiteljorg Video Interview / Eiteljorg Biography
Larry McNeil's WEBSITE Follow his BLOG

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Dec 10, 2009 6:30 - 8:30pm
DRY ICE: Alaska Native Artists and The Landscape
Alaska House, 109 Mercer Street (Prince x Spring), New York

An exhibition of Alaska Native artists, including Brian Adams, Susie Bevins-Ericsen, Perry Eaton, Nicholas Galanin, Anna Hoover, Erica Lord, Da-ka-xeen Mehner, and Larry McNeil. Each explores their relationship to the landscape, through a variety of interpretations and media, combining traditional and innovative forms from mask-making and skin sewing to photography and installation. Dry Ice is curated by Julie Decker, Ph.D., of Anchorage, Alaska. Decker is the director of the International Gallery of Contemporary Art in Anchorage, a frequent guest curator of the Anchorage Museum and the author of numerous publications on art and architecture of Alaska.

12 comments:

Susan said...

These are very thought provoking photos and I'm still pondering on the timely questions posed. Truly amazing that a lens can capture so much of man's history, culture and life story in a single shot... thanks to an exceptional photographer.

Mary said...

What a beautiful, intimate portrait of a people, with pride and longing and yes, love, in every frame.

HELENA AFONSO said...

As a traveler and photography lover I read with much interest your text and information in old times culture, lovely images... NO DOUBT!
I will follow your blog,
HELENAculture

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

WoW, what wonderfully touching pictures. Thanks for sharing them with us today.

You have yourself one terrifically blessed day!!!

Nezzy said...

About the Eiteljorg Foundation, that's an excellent video interview of this artist. I look forward to seeing more of his work. Thank you.

Dylan B. said...

Thought provoking quotes.

Caio Fern said...

first i just thought it was a series of really good photos .
but this man has much more to say . and this is great .
wonderful to have discovered him . thanks . i am going after more informations now .
gifts for eyes and mind .

Meg said...

wow these photos are so beautiful! thanks for sharing them :)
xo meg

Anonymous said...

These photographs are simply outstanding.

EDUARDO POISL said...

Muito linda as fotos, que maravilha!!!

"No fim tu hás de ver que as coisas
mais leves são as únicas que o vento
não conseguiu levar:
um estribilho antigo,
um carinho no momento preciso,
o folhear de um livro de poemas,
o cheiro que tinha um dia
o próprio vento"

(Mário Quintana)


Desejo um lindo final de semana com muito amor, paz e carinho.
Abraços com todo meu carinho.

nursemyra said...

amazing images

House of Hullabaloo said...

Heavy!