Native Sun News Today: Crazy Horse Memorial offers opportunities for Native artists

Wednesday, January 23, 2019  

By Richie Richards
Native Sun News Today Correspondent
nativesunnews.today

CRAZY HORSE – There are plenty of opportunities for artists and culture bearers to share their knowledge and talent up at Crazy Horse Memorial this season.

The tourist season begins in mid-May in the Black Hills and runs through early October for many of the venues. A major part of the attraction for visitors to the area is indigenous culture and artwork. One such place for these travelers from around the world is Crazy Horse Memorial located near Custer, South Dakota.

Andrew Dunehoo, 37, is the Museum Curator and Director of Cultural Affairs and has been at Crazy Horse for nearly two years. Since moving here from Colorado with his family, Dunehoo has been engaging with the Native American community in a way which allows them to take the lead in many ways on the museum’s projects. This is continuing the work he had been doing in the Colorado for fifteen years before coming to South Dakota.

“I moved here from Colorado. I’ve been in the museum field for about fifteen years and working with state and local history; working with Native communities in Colorado,” said Dunehoo. I’ve had an incredible opportunity to meet with some amazing culture bearers from the Native American community who have shared their stories and knowledge of their culture.”

Yellow Bird's Fort Robinson Outbreak Spiritual Run was founded by Phillip Whiteman, Jr. originally to pay respect to the North Cheyenne ancestors that broke out of Fort Robinson on January 9, 1879. The runners were at Crazy Horse on the 11th of January this year. pic.twitter.com/uRPKOUwWvN

— Crazy Horse Memorial (@CrazyHorseMem) January 11, 2019

The museum curator says he has had a wonderful experience over the years in engaging with Native American artisans and keepers of sacred knowledge. He feels it is their voice which helps to authenticate the work in museums and classrooms. This valuable partnership has been an active part of the interpretive development and programming at Crazy Horse Memorial.

“We serve as a partner in that way to performers, to educators, to public speakers, to other museum professionals and curators. We’ve been able to connect with those leaders in the community to help them to get their story to the national and international audience,” he said.

Since being at Crazy Horse, Dunehoo feels they have been able to partner with various Native American communities, tribal elders and other groups to tell the story and ensure that the indigenous voice is front and center in his projects. “I’m very proud of the connections we’ve made to Native communities. I’m very proud of the opportunities that we’ve made possible to Native artists through our artist in residency program; everything from up and coming artists to established artists in the field.”

The museum curator is excited to see the exhibits which have benefited from connecting artists to the research opportunities at Crazy Horse. The collections at the Memorial have expanded over the years and continue to grow. These items in the collections are both contemporary and historical; this provides opportunity for artisans to gain insight into the evolvement of a particular style or genre of art, according to Dunehoo.

“The research kind of changes the way that Native history is seen in museums. That’s one of the biggest goals here now,” he said. “We’re working towards that now in interpretive development. That goes from exhibits on over to cultural programs as well, to help break down the misconceptions and to create a place of healing through authenticity.”

Standing Rock Reservation is celebrating December 14th as Chief Sitting Bull Day. This is one of the pipes that belonged to Sitting Bull. The pipe can be seen in the Native American Educational and Cultural Center® here at Crazy Horse Memorial®. pic.twitter.com/5dlAT3J7G7

— Crazy Horse Memorial (@CrazyHorseMem) December 14, 2018

Crazy Horse provides a variety of ways that artists, performers, culture bearers and educators can be a part of their programs, including the performers who are sharing their trades throughout the summer months on a daily basis. There is a great diversity in the styles of performances from flute players from the southwest, to traditional Lakota dancers and youth hoop dancers.

“We are willing to expand upon that as well and open it up to others to come and share their culture. Performers are not strictly here for performing. They are also here for education, so the people who come not only enjoy the energy of their performance but will also receive an education on what they are seeing,” he said.

One of the many opportunities available is the Artist in Residency Program, which makes it possible for an artisan to have an onsite art studio. This space will give them a chance to educate the community about their pieces and will give them room to sell to their audience.

According to Dunehoo, the residency focuses more on the creative aspect, allowing the artist time and space to create new pieces while enjoying the company of visitors from around the world. “The artist can also research in our collections and be able to inspire themselves in the contemporary and historical collections,” he said.

“We have the Gift from Mother Earth Native and Western Art Show, which we have the opportunity to not only work exclusively with Native artists but to all artists in the genre of western Native art. That has brought in a variety of artists from potters to jewelers, painters, photographers. That’s three days out of this summer. Artists can come in and sell and it’s also a competition,” he said. “We have professional judges who come in and so they have an opportunity to win prizes and awards there.”

Also available this summer is the Talking Circle Speakers Series. This program allows for speakers from various backgrounds and fields to come in and share their experiences in being Native American in modern times. There are tough issues discussed at times and very light hearted talks as well.

“This program allows us to venue for us to take forward various messages that can sort of push the boundaries a little bit. It allows us the opportunity to not back away from certain issues. its chance for healing to begin,” Dunehoo said. “Speakers have come from the boarding school healing coalition and it was a chance to talk about the work that they are doing.”

In wanting to keep the programs and exhibits evolving over the years, new ideas are always brought into the discussions at Crazy Horse. One such idea for this season is the Living Treasures Indian Arts Cultural Exchange. This program will allow for a master artist from their field to be in the Native American Educational Cultural Center and teach about their art.

“These are master class artists who are coming in from all across the country; basket weavers from the Northeast, ledger art hide painting, pottery, carving, sculpture, jewelry, quill and beadwork. It’s focused on cultural immersion and education. It’s an opportunity where they will be doing classes with our regular visitors for that whole week. It’s an opportunity to make new connections with Native communities,” said Dunehoo.

This program allows for a stipend. The master artists will do a one hour workshop and will be financially compensated for their time and travel. Often times, these master artists come from various parts of the country and financial assistance is needed and appreciated, said the museum curator.

Dunehoo admits that the mission of the museum is pretty far reaching. This includes working with indigenous history from across Turtle Island which can be very daunting, yet rewarding for any museum.

“We work with Native history across the continent. It’s a little intimidating. We’re trying to tell the story of Native nations from all across the continent, from First Nations all the way down to Central America," Dunehoo said. "This global concept has to be showed in a variety of ways. We have to work with and expand how we show the distinction between those various regions.”

The programs mentioned thus far are on a fixed schedule. The deadline for these programs is January 31, 2019.

Contact Native Sun News Today Correspondent Richie Richards at richie4175@gmail.com

Copyright permission Native Sun News Today