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SAR Artist Fellows Celebrated in Walt Disney World Resort Exhibit

Aug 1, 2018

“We get tens of millions of visitors at Smithsonian Museums in Washington and New York, but the reality is that a great many people from around the world will never visit a Smithsonian, and a great many of those people who will never visit a Smithsonian will visit Disney World.” 

– Kevin Gover
National Museum of the American Indian Director

 

On July 27, 2018 Walt Disney World Resort unveiled a new exhibit in their American Heritage Gallery at The American Adventure in Epcot.

Loren Aragon, Elysia Poon, Glenda McKay, and Tony Chavarria.

Working with curators from the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (MIAC) and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), Disney put forth for their global audience a new look at Native American art and culture. Creating Tradition: Innovation and Change in American Indian Art presents nearly 90 works representing seven distinct regions across the United States. Among the contributors are two former SAR Native artist fellows and a former intern.

Glenda McKay, SAR’s 2013 Ronald and Susan Dubin artist fellow, creates Ingalik-Athabascan dolls with intricate beadwork, fur, and other details. Learn more about Glenda here.

Loren Aragon, SAR’s 2017 Ronald and Susan Dubin artist fellow, is an Acoma Pueblo fashion designer. His works explore the intersection of contemporary design and references to historic cultural material. Learn more about Loren here.

Tony Chavarria, SAR’s 1995 Branigar intern, has had a distinguished career as a museum professional. Tony is now the Curator of Ethnology at the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, and was he was one of the curators for the new Disney exhibit.

IARC Curator of Education Elysia Poon attended the opening of Creating Tradition. She notes, “This is the first Native American exhibition to be featured at Epcot in its history. To have the opportunity to share this moment with several of our alumni and help celebrate their remarkable achievements is truly a privilege.”

Creating Tradition: Innovation and Change in American Indian will be a featured exhibit at Epcot for several years and will continue to educate visitors on the diverse Native American cultural heritage across the country.

SAR offers three annual artist fellowships and two internships. Often the artists and interns return to SAR to share how their time on campus influenced the direction of their work or careers. Artists give talks and offer a studio tour during their time in residence. Become a  SAR member today to stay up to date on these talks and other SAR events.

Glenda McKay and Loren Aragon in front of one of Aragon’s featured designs.

Creating Tradition: Innovation and Change in American Indian exhibit in American Heritage Gallery at The American Adventure in Epcot.

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