Emily W. Arthur, Water Moccasin (with shot ), 2011.Air Land Seed An exhibition of Contemporary Indigenous Arts
University of Venice Ca' Foscari, Palazzo Cosulich, May 30 -June 2, 2013
The University of Wisconsin-Madison, The University of Venice, Ca` Foscari and The Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) a center of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) proudly announce the opening of the indigenous art exhibit "Air, Land, Seed" at the University of Venice Ca` Foscari, Palazzo Cosulich, May 30 at 5:00 PM on the occasion of the 55th Venice Biennale
Exhibiting artists include: Faisal Abdu'Allah, Emily Arthur, Marwin Begaye, John Hitchcock, Ryan O'Malley, Henry Payer, Duane Slick, C. Maxx Stevens, and Dyani White Hawk. Curators include: Elisabetta Frasca, Nancy Marie Mithlo, Paul Baker Prindle and Sarah Anne Stolte.
Air Land Seed addresses global tensions between home and exile, drawing from the unique perspectives of the indigenous peoples of Native North America. Nine contemporary artists engaged in the politicized medium of printmaking will exhibit works on paper, film and installation that question the forced displacements and ideologies that define our collective contemporary existence. This reappropriation of colonial markers - flags, boats and airwaves - subverts the control and militarization of indigenous homelands. Through participatory live print actions, performance, exhibition and dialogue, artists will repurpose these potent icons inscribed in the US Marine credo: "From the Halls of Montezuma, To the shores of Tripoli; We fight our country's battles, in the air, on land and sea."
Curated by a collaborative group of artists, art educators, and curators, Air Land Seed is our seventh indigenous exhibition at the Venice Biennale (1999-2011) and the fifth collaborative event with the University of Venice.For more information on previous projects, please visit: Epicentro Re Tracing the Plains, Venice, Italy and Venice Biennale 1999 to 2009
In association with the exhibit, a symposium Convergence II will occur at the Casa del Cinema, Venice Italy: May 30, 2013 from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM and will be chaired by Henry Drewal (Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Departments of Art History & Afro-American Studies) and Maria Luisa Ciminelli, (Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, Department of Historical Studies). Navajo poets Sherwin Bitsui and Luci Tapahonso will read their work at the University of Venice Ca' Foscari, Palazzo Cosulich opening Thursday May 30th 5:00 PM. Artist Faisal Abdu'Allah will present an interactive performance at the Palazzo Cosulichexhibit site Saturday June 1st at 10:00 AM.
Air Land Seed advisors include: Sonya Y. Clark, Diane R. Karp, Sarah K. Khan and Patsy Phillips. A parallel exhibition will occur June 29 - Sept. 21, 2013 at the non-profit artspace 516 Arts in Albuquerque, New Mexico in association with an artist residency hosted by the Santa Fe Art Institute.
For details in Venice please contact: Studio dal Ponte at: studiodalponte@libero.it tel. (041) 523-9315