With the nation’s social and political turmoil as well as an ongoing pandemic, 2020 revealed how now more than ever the perspectives of social science scholars and Native American artists matter. In today’s post, we reflect on the last year and invite you to join us for online programs in the new year.
Venancio Aragon is the SAR 2020 Rollin and Mary Ella King Native artist fellow. If you ever meet Venancio, you will notice his friendly demeanor and willingness to chat. He is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and what I would consider an award-winning master weaver, although he describes himself as “a humble practitioner of an ancient art.” Along with being an artist, he is also an intellectual, knowledge holder, and student.
Over the last few weeks, SAR Indian Arts Research Center staff members have spent some time reflecting on their favorite pieces from the collection. Here is one of the pieces that was selected by IARC collections assistant Molly Winslow.
For Felicia Garcia, SAR’s new curator of education at the Indian Arts Research Center (IARC), one of the most exciting reasons to be at SAR is a proven dedication to community that drives much of the work at the IARC. We spoke with Felicia about what makes the IARC unique, the importance of land acknowledgement practices, and how the education department fits within the organization. Listen to the full interview and explore highlighted excerpts.
Erin Monique Grant, SAR’s 2019 Anne Ray Intern, reports on the 12th Annual International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums hosted in Temecula, California. Grant shares her experiences and reflects on the events that included a keynote address by US poet laureate Joy Harjo (Muscogee Creek Nation).
SAR Announces 2019-2020 Resident Scholars: C.J. Alvarez, Patricia Crown, Rashmi Sadana, Fátima Suárez, and Davina Two Bears.
The School for Advanced Research (SAR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Elysia Poon as the new director of SAR’s Indian Arts Research Center (IARC). With over a decade of experience within the organization as the IARC curator of education and nearly twenty years of museum experience, Poon has demonstrated a commitment to collaborative programming and a dedication to community-based collections care. Under her leadership, the IARC will continue to advance national conversations around how collecting institutions and Native American communities can work together to foster cultural heritage and promote contemporary art practices.
2016-2017 Anne Ray intern, Nina Sanders, shares her reflections on an ongoing collaboration with the Field Museum in Chicago.
During their nine months at the IARC, Garcia and Tracy have strengthened their skills and become collaborators, learning from one another as they shared knowledge, skills, and ideas.