winter, by wendy red star on display at ottawa’s national gallery of canada 

no that’s not an ad for H&M winter collection, so what’s wrong with this picture?  take another look and you may begin to understand what’s actually right about it…

 

that is a photograph by artists wendy red star who was born in billings montana in 1981 and is an enrolled member of the apsáalooke (crow) tribe. i think red start is in a way poking fun at the romantic notions and the stereo-types, we all have of the first nation people. when in reality they are here today strong as ever, many of them are living a life no different than ours as doctors, lawyers, business owners etc. and yet they are fully connected to their roots. this is not to diminish the reality and the crimes committed against them, but perhaps as a young woman born in 1981 you may get tired of all that generalization.

 

her work, and its kitsch references reminded me of the work of art photographer duo, pierre et gilles, and their silly portrayals of “gayness”. while i personally dress in a sailor suit all day, not all gay men look this way… so there… that is the art.

 

“…red star places herself at the center of her photographic tableau, dressed in the brightly hued traditional tribal attire, which she sewed herself. featuring elk teeth and beads characteristic of crow dress, her clothing is historically authentic.

 

artist wendy red star is debunking myths and upending clichés about first nation and native people using “humour as a bridge” and to insure not to offend the very people whose ancestors did “the deeds”

“…by making herself the main subject in each of her photographic seasons, red crow is asserting the continuing survival and presence of all indigenous people, says cross. “by wearing her tribal regalia, she is saying, ‘we’re here, we’re not going anywhere. and what she wears is not a costume, not a stereotype, it is part of a history that connects to her ancestors and her culture and will continue to do so into the future.”

 

“… the exhibition juxtaposes works by first nation artists with those of canadian settlers, british and european artists from the 19th to 21st centuries as a way to both celebrate and contemplate the experience of the season from multiple cultural perspectives.

 

in keeping with that theme, the differing ways in which each group perceives and misperceives – as well as sees and doesn’t really see – the others is what red star is asking us to reflect on in this work.

 

 

natural history museum new york

“…red star’s work talks back to the dioramas seen in natural history museums that often depict cultural habitats – including those of indigenous peoples – and treat these communities as if they were specimens for historical or anthropological study.

 

photographer edward s curtis (1868-1952)

 

“…they also critique the work of the us photographer edward s curtis, best known for his documentary portrayals of american indians – including members of red star’s crow nation – in the 1900s. still, red star regards curtis and his relationship to native people as complex. “his ability to photograph the different communities came through his interpreters, who were themselves tribal members… from my community he had alexander upshaw… so, when i look at curtis’s photos now,” she says, she thinks about upshaw.

 

that is fair but i must say i am glad that curtis managed to capture her incredible ancestors so we could stand in awe of them today. i simply wish there were more photographs documentary films and movies about their history and life. by xy