Eiteljorg Museum Magazine Fall/Winter 2019-2020

FALL/WINTER 2019-2020

blurring the line The Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship 2019

OPENING A WORLD OF ART TO NEW AUDIENCES INSIDE FRONT COVER

AN EXCEPTIONAL ACQUISITION OF NATIVE ART OF THE GREAT LAKES

JINGLE RAILS RETURNS WITH SURPRISES P6

EXCITING GALLERY RENOVATION PLANNED

DAVID WRIGHT: ARTIST OF DISTINCTION P13

P4

P2 Weekend Celebration: NOV 15–16, 2019 See the Exhibition: NOV 16, 2019–FEB 2, 2020

ART AND PROGRAMMING FOR ALL

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

Eiteljorg’s 30th anniversary year wraps up with unforgettable exhibits and experiences

By Martha L. Hill, Ph.D., Eiteljorg vice president for public programs and the Beeler family director of education

I

n 2018 the Eiteljorg and the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually impaired (ISBVI), along with several arts organizations, began a partnership program to strengthen accessibility at arts organizations in Indianapolis. During the three-year project called No Limits, ISBVI students are working alongside staff to identify inequities in access for the visually impaired, and create solutions An ISBVI Leadership Club student that dissolve barriers to inclusion for all people with disabilities.

Eiteljorg staff and guides began work in April with the Leadership explores Frederic Remington’s The Broncho Buster.

Club of 10 students from ISBVI to evaluate the museum’s accesImage courtesy of Dave Thomas. sibility. They identified strategies and solutions to increase access, particularly in current exhibition space and in the upcoming reinstallation of the Native American galleries. Students and the museum also are working with ArtMix, an organization committed to transforming lives of people with disabilities through art. After going on a guided tour, ISBVI students experienced the museum on their own in small groups. They held several brainstorming sessions with museum and ArtMix staff and recommended ways to provide greater access.

The work with the ISBVI Leadership Club has resulted in: • Transferring the bronze stagecoach sculpture Cheyenne to Deadwood by artist Scott Rogers from the permanent collection to the museum’s education collection so it can be more accessible to visitors. Currently in the interactive R.B. Annis Western Family Experience, the sculpture has been under a Plexiglas case since 2013. The case will be removed to make the sculpture touchable.

• A meeting with museum architect Jonathan Hess to explore future alterations to the Eiteljorg building to make it more accessible.

• A meeting with staff of the nonprofit Bosma Enterprises to learn more about the Blind Square app and the use of directional beacons for the visually impaired.

Having participated in an audio training workshop, Eiteljorg guide Jen Anker is working with curators on audio descriptions for two upcoming exhibitions: Please Touch! The Sculptures of Michael Naranjo, and Quilts: Uncovering Women’s Stories.

A related focus of No Limits is giving students opportunities to create art alongside Native American artists. Each year of the initiative, the museum will bring in an artist to spend a week working with ISBVI students at their school. In September, Jason Wesaw (Potawatomi), a ceramic, fiber and mixed media artist, shared his culture with students as they worked together on a clay project.

Sculptor Michael Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo) will work with students in 2020. While serving in the Vietnam War, Naranjo was wounded by a grenade Eiteljorg Guide Sandy Schipp introduces students to the that injured his right hand and took his eyesight. triptych painting October Suite, Grand Canyon, 1991, Naranjo creates sculptures in bronze and marble,

by Wilson Hurley. Image courtesy of 12 Stars Media. and encourages people to touch his work so they can see it as he does. In addition to Naranjo’s residency, the Eiteljorg will hold an exhibition of his work from Jan. 18-July 26, 2020, that will be entirely touchable, allowing museum visitors to experience art in a new way.

Rounding out the three-year project in 2021 will be a visit by a third artist. Not only will it provide engaging arts experiences for ISBVI students, the Eiteljorg will become a more inclusive, open and welcoming arts venue for a much broader audience through the No Limits partnership.

This project is possible thanks to Lilly Endowment Inc. On the cover: Rita Letendre (Abenaki) Great Awakening, 2001, oil on canvas, 72 x 90 inches

Ojibwe Artist Bandolier Bag, ca. 1875, loom woven beadwork bag; glass seed beads, glass basket beads, wool cloth, wool fox braid, wool yarn, cotton cloth

Loan courtesy of the artist.

Museum purchase with funds provided by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Eiteljorg Museum Magazine Winner of the 2019 Award of Honor from the Public Relations Society of America — Hoosier Chapter Volume 14, Number 3 President and CEO John Vanausdall Vice President for Advancement Nataly Lowder Director of Marketing and Communications Bert Beiswanger Design Honeymoon Image & Design Editor and Writer Bryan Corbin Contributing Writers Kay Hinds Nataly Lowder Martha L. Hill Johanna M. Blume Bert Beiswanger Allison Evans Aaliyah Hunt Contributing Photographers Images of Fellowship art works used with permission of the artists.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hadley Fruits Photography Eiteljorg Museum marketing staff and archives Zach Dobson 12 Stars Media Dave Thomas Brittany Erwin Photography Bill Stengel Special thanks to the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Special thanks to Michael and Laurie Naranjo Editor’s Note Every effort is made to ensure that exhibition images published in Storyteller magazine accurately reflect the art works on exhibit at the Eiteljorg Museum during the dates announced and promoted.

Occasionally, changes to art works in exhibitions must be made too late for the Storyteller’s publication deadlines. For comments or questions, call (317) 275-1315 or email bcorbin@eiteljorg.com.

Friends, As our year-long celebration of the Eiteljorg Museum’s 30th anniversary comes to a close, we are pleased with the exhibits and programs that have inspired our community, and excited by what is still to come.

The museum enjoyed an eventful summer. Our 27th annual Indian Market and Festival was a delight, bringing more than 100 Native American artists and thousands of visitors together for a weekend of art, music and cultural experiences.

Wednesday evenings in June and July were enlivened by our free live music series, Summer Under the Sails, which drew new and repeat visitors from our community into the museum.

We celebrated the career of our friend and colleague Martha L. Hill, who recently retired as vice president of public programs and education, and who with her staff made these events happen. We also congratuate Alisa NordholtDean who was promoted to become the new Beeler Family director of education and public programs.

Our 14th annual Quest for the West® Art Show and Sale in September showcased top Western artists and their latest works, which visitors enjoyed during the month-long Quest exhibition. The opening Quest sale weekend was bittersweet, as we remembered veteran Quest artist Terry Isaac, who had planned to participate again this year but passed away unexpectedly in July.

We were honored that one of

Terry’s final paintings, Mystic Encounters, was on view during Quest.

Two other longtime friends of the museum passed away this year: former board members Dr. Ed Cockerill and June Swango. As you will read on page 11, Ed and June brought energy, insight and wisdom to the museum and its board, and they are deeply missed.

As autumn settles in, we look forward to one of the most enjoyable and exciting times of year at the Eiteljorg.

Day of the Dead, which takes place Oct. 26, has grown into a vibrant celebration with the Latino community. And for the 10th year, we are presenting our model train display, Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure, which opens Nov. 23. For many families, visiting Jingle Rails is a holiday tradition, and this year’s new settings will make for a memorable experience for grandchildren, grandparents and generations in between.

Speaking of milestone anniversaries, 20 years ago we launched what is now known as the Eiteljorg Contemporary

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No Limits: an innovative arts series opens the door to creating access for all

Dyani White Hawk (Sicangu Lakota) Untitled (Black and Gold), 2019 Acrylic, bugle beads, thread and synthetic sinew on canvas 48 x 48 inches

Eiteljorg President and CEO John Vanausdall, right, and architect Jonathan Hess, left, are seen here outside the Eiteljorg Museum during its 30th anniversary year. Working with the late Harrison Eiteljorg, Hess designed the Southwesterninspired Eiteljorg building that opened in 1989.

Art Fellowship. This year’s biennial exhibition, Blurring the Line, offers a fascinating look at contemporary Native art.

The imagination and creativity that the five Eiteljorg Fellows bring to their artworks will inspire you and spark many lively conversations. Supporting and promoting contemporary Native art through the Fellowship program is one of the museum’s most important initiatives, and we are grateful to Lilly Endowment Inc. and the Efroymson Family Fund, a Central Indiana Community Foundation Fund, for sustaining this effort. We hope you will join us Nov. 15-16 for the Fellowship exhibition opening weekend celebrations and for the exhibition that continues through Feb. 2.

Always focused on the future of the museum, we are excited to announce a new art acquisition as part of our Great Lakes Initiative and upcoming renovation of our Native American galleries, which you can read about on page 4.

The combined efforts of artists, donors, patrons, members, directors, staff and volunteers make it possible for the Eiteljorg Museum to fulfill the mission that our founder, Harrison Eiteljorg, set forth three decades ago: to provide a space where the public can experience, enjoy and appreciate the art, history and cultures of Native Americans and the American West. Though our museum since 1989 has greatly expanded, evolved in its presentation and broadened its audience, we remain committed to our core mission.

I want to thank all of you who have supported the Eiteljorg Museum during the past 30 years, and I invite you to join us at the museum during this holiday season.

We hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,

John Vanausdall President and CEO Eiteljorg Museum

Museum Purchase: Eiteljorg Fellowship

Fall/Winter 2019-2020

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CONTEMPORARY ART

Mathew Alan Kirk (Navajo) To Be So Lucky, 2017 Mixed media on paper 38 x 50 inches

Museum Purchase: Eiteljorg Fellowship

Museum Purchase: Eiteljorg Fellowship

blurring the line Nationally renowned Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship returns to the spotlight

Eiteljorg Museum Storyteller Magazine

Hannah Claus (Bay of Quinte Mohawk) water song: peemitanaahkwahki sakaahkweelo, 2019 Digital imagery printed on acetate film (Durachrome UV ink on Jetview film), thread (Gütermann Scala 60), PVA glue 240 x 168 x 15 inches

(Story continued on page 4) Dyani White Hawk (Sicangu Lakota) Carry I, 2019 Buckskin, synthetic sinew, antique glass beads, brass sequins, canvas, acrylic, dyed feathers, approx. 110 x 15 inches

Museum Commission: Eiteljorg Fellowship

Loan courtesy of the artist

THE EITELJORG CONTEMPORARY ART FELLOWSHIP 2019 ARTISTS

#EJFellowship

Rita Letendre (Abenaki), Invited Artist

Hannah Claus (Bay of Quinte Mohawk)

Demian DinéYazhí (Diné)

Matthew Alan Kirk (Navajo)

Fall/Winter 2019-2020

Dyani White Hawk (Sicangu Lakota) ˆ

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Canadian and American museums and who is the invited artist this round • Hannah Claus (Bay of Quinte Mohawk), an installation artist in Montreal who creates suspended sculptures and has created a “Miami watersong” piece for this exhibition • Demian DinéYazhí (Diné), a multidisciplinary artist from Portland, Oregon, who has been awarded several grants and fellowships and who creates installations, textile pieces and video • Matthew Alan Kirk (Navajo), a painter based in Queens, N.Y., whose geometric compositions resemble road maps, Navajo rugs and urban landscapes • Dyani White Hawk (Sicangu Lakota), of Minneapolis, who creates intricate mixed-media paintings that incorporate, among other elements, porcupine quills and beads with painted geometric patterns.

Loan courtesy of the artist

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A

s part of the Eiteljorg Museum’s ongoing commitment to contemporary Native American art, five artists who are this year’s Eiteljorg Fellows will be celebrated through a new exhibition: Blurring the Line: The Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship 2019.

“The line that separates contemporary Native art from customary Native art does not exist,” Eiteljorg curator of contemporary art Jennifer Complo McNutt said. “The work of contemporary Native artists today is a continuum of Native expression. It does not solely exist in the Native world or mainstream art community.”

From Nov. 16 to Feb. 2, the Blurring the Line exhibition will highlight paintings, drawings, mixed media and installations by the 2019 Fellowship artists: • Rita Letendre (Abenaki), a renowned abstract painter from Toronto, originally from southern Quebec, whose works are in

Demian DinéYazhí (Diné) Trust Fall (Pine Ridge), 2012 Photograph

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Rita Letendre (Abenaki) Sunburst, 1971 Oil on canvas 31 x 40 inches

Each Eiteljorg Fellow receives a $25,000 unrestricted award and their work is part of the exhibition, catalogue and video documentation.

The museum also purchases $115,000 in works of the Fellows for its permanent collection.

“Native contemporary art cannot be judged by whether there is a recognizably Native design, or form, integrated into the art,” Complo McNutt added. “Native art connects to individual artists, it rejects stereotypes; it reflects today and like all art, has changed over time. It not only blurs the line, it challenges the narrow definitions assigned to contemporary Native art and overcomes them.”

The Eiteljorg Museum is home to one of the world’s best collections of contemporary Native art, and its Fellowship program has provided an insightful examination of contemporary Native art and impacted a broader art community.

Every other year since 1999, the Eiteljorg has awarded Fellowships to five contemporary Native or First Nations artists, a different class each round. In that time the Eiteljorg Fellowship awarded approximately $1.25 million to 55 artists and purchased more than 180 works. The Lilly Endowment Inc. and the Efroymson Family Fund, a Central Indiana Community Foundation Fund, provide generous support for the Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship.

Blurring the Line: The Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship 2019 is curated by Jennifer Complo McNutt and Dorene Red Cloud, assistant curator of Native American art. For more information, visit https://contemporaryartfellowship.eiteljorg.org/.

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BLURRING THE LINE: THE EITELJORG CONTEMPORARY ART FELLOWSHIP 2019

ART UP CLOSE

(continued from page 3)

Exhibit open to the public: Nov. 16, 2019-Feb. 2, 2020, included with general museum admission.

Special opening weekend events: • Friday Nov. 15 5-7 p.m.: Welcoming celebration for Eiteljorg Fellows; reservations: $50.

7:30-10 p.m.: After-party with DJ, dancing and art-making; reservations: $25 members, $35 non-members, or included with admission to 5 p.m. event.

• Saturday Nov. 16 9 a.m.: Gallery tour of the Blurring the Line exhibition.

10:30 a.m.-noon: Moderated conversation with Fellowship artists.

The Nov. 16 events are included with regular admission, but pre-registration is required.

Details at www.eiteljorg.org For reservations to special events, contact Cassandra Sanborn at 317.275.1360 or csanborn@eiteljorg.com.

Learn more and receive updates at: www.Eiteljorg.org/ContemporaryArtFellowship #EJBlurringTheLine PRESENTED BY:

SONSORED BY:

Eiteljorg acquires exceptional Native items of the Great Lakes; future exhibition planned

By Bryan Corbin, Storyteller magazine editor

T

he Eiteljorg Museum recently acquired another major, nationally prominent collection, this time of exceptional, historic Native American items from the Great Lakes region.

The more than 400 items were created by artists from the Ho-Chunk, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Menominee and other nations whose historic homelands encompass the Great Lakes region, including what is now Indiana. The items date from the late 18th through mid-20th centuries and feature beautiful examples of beadwork, ribbonwork, weavings and carvings. Shirts, leggings, moccasins, blankets, sashes, bandolier bags, cradleboards and wooden bowls are among the items in the Richard Pohrt, Jr. collection.

According to Scott Shoemaker, Ph.D., (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma) — who is the Eiteljorg’s Thomas G. and

Susan C. Hoback curator of Native American art, history and culture — acquiring the Pohrt items fills gaps in the museum’s collections, as the Eiteljorg plans for a major renovation in coming years of its Native galleries.

“The Eiteljorg Museum sits upon historic Miami homelands but is part of the much larger Great Lakes region. Our collection was lacking in historical items from Native nations with historic and contemporary ties to this region,” Shoemaker said.

“While the collection will be integral to the reinstallation of the Native American galleries and other future exhibitions, it will also be accessible to the communities whose ancestors made these incredible items.”

A treasured collection The Eiteljorg purchased the objects from Richard Pohrt, Jr., a respected art dealer in Michigan with a passion for collecting Native American

Potawatomi, Otoe, Ojibwe and Wyandot artists Moccasins, ca. 1800–ca. 1890 Tanned and smoked deerskin, glass seed beads, ribbon applique, silk ribbon, moose hair Museum purchase with funds provided by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

art. His father Richard Pohrt, Sr. also was a prominent Native art collector whose collections were exhibited in major museums. The younger Pohrt started his collection in the late 1970s, and it continued to grow until about four years ago. He amassed an exceptional collection of rare pieces, many of which he displayed in his home.

When Pohrt decided it was time to part with the collection, he preferred to see the items stay together and find an appropriate home rather than auctioning them off individually. Meanwhile, the Eiteljorg wanted to acquire additional Great Lakes items to provide museum visitors a more complete

and nuanced picture of the Indigenous peoples of the region. Fortuitously, Lilly Endowment Inc. agreed to support the Eiteljorg’s efforts to acquire Pohrt’s collection.

The Indianapolis-based foundation provided the Eiteljorg with a $2.83 million grant that funded purchase of the collection, purchase of new in-house storage units, assistance with cataloging the collection, support for long-term care of the items and consultation with Native communities.

Once the purchase closed, a team of Eiteljorg curators and collections experts traveled in March to Pohrt’s home and carefully prepared the items for shipment to Indianapolis.

BLURRING THE LINE BOOK IS YOUR GATEWAY TO THE WORLD OF CONTEMPORARY NATIVE ART If you are intrigued by the art works of the 2019 Eiteljorg Fellows, make the experience last by taking home the full-color Blurring the Line art catalogue, featuring essays providing an in-depth study of the five artists.

STORE HOURS The book can be purchased for MON–SAT: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $30 in the Frank and Katrina Basile Museum Store. Also, shop SUN: Noon to 5 p.m.

317.275.1300 for art catalogues from past 800.878.7978 museum exhibitions such as Native Art Now! and Quest store@eiteljorg.com for the West ®. @Eiteljorg.Store Shop online: https://eiteljorg.org/visit/shop/ 4

In the Eiteljorg Museum’s collections department, collections assistant Liz Ale examines an Ojibwe beaded vest that is among the Great Lakes Native items the museum recently acquired from art collector Richard Pohrt, Jr. Image by Aaliyah Hunt.

Eiteljorg Museum Storyteller Magazine

Mohawk Artist Cradleboard, ca. 1875 Carved and bent wood; wood, paint, rawhide, metal

In addition to the items purchased by the Eiteljorg, Pohrt donated a number of pieces to the museum.

Over the past several months, Eiteljorg collections department staff have been meticulously cataloguing and processing the Pohrt items into the museum’s permanent collection.

New look for galleries Though the objects won’t go on exhibit right away, the museum is preparing to give them a prominent place in its Native American galleries.

Under its Project 2021 strategic plan, the museum will renovate and reinstall those galleries so they include a stronger emphasis on the Great Lakes region. In early 2021, the second-floor galleries will close temporarily for renovations expected to last approximately one year.

Once the galleries reopen, the public will see a new stateof-the-art exhibition space featuring many of the Pohrt items. The rest of the museum including first-floor Western and special exhibits galleries will remain open during renovations.

In preparing to show the Pohrt items, the museum has begun consulting with tribes to gain a better understanding of the objects and their cultural context and

Ho-Chunk Artist Bandolier Bag, ca. 1890 Woven beadwork bag; glass seed beads, wool cloth, wool fox braid, wool yarn Museum purchase with funds provided by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

determine whether any pieces should be repatriated. In compliance with a federal law, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Eiteljorg notified more than 40 Great Lakes Native nations of its recent acquisition. Along with the gallery reinstallation, the museum is developing a related curriculum for teachers. For the latest updates on the upcoming gallery changes, visit www. eiteljorg.org.

If you are interested in supporting the museum’s Project 2021 plan to renovate the Native American galleries, contact Nataly Lowder at nlowder@eiteljorg.com or 317.275.1311.

Museum purchase with funds provided by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Fall/Winter 2019-2020

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HOLIDAY TRADITION

COMMUNITY AND DIVERSITY

Take an enchanting journey through Indianapolis and the West

Day of the Dead Celebration brings community together

W

hat started several years ago as a small program to educate visitors about Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) has blossomed into a vibrant multicultural community celebration. Join Nopal Cultural and celebrate Day of the Dead at the Eiteljorg on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Admission will be free for Day of the Dead, and for the first time, we are extending the celebration until 8 p.m.

Festivities include dance performances, art-making, a mercado (marketplace), music, ofrendas (altars), food, artist-in-residence Richard Gabriel, Jr., who specializes in Spanish Colonial tinwork, and much more.

What is Día de Muertos?

With roots going back thousands of years to indigenous traditions in Mexico, this holiday is a time to gather together to remember and celebrate friends and relatives who have passed on. Day of the Dead has evolved into a diverse festival, celebrated not only in Mexico but in the U.S. and many other countries.

And, don’t miss the Contemporary Altar and Art Exhibit featuring the work of artist Carlos Sosa, curated by community organizations and Nopal Cultural, Oct. 10 through Nov. 2. It is free and open to view during museum hours.

DÍA DE MUERTOS DAY OF THE DEAD SATURDAY

OCT 26

10 a.m.–8 p.m.

FREE museum admission

#EJDOD2019

CONTEMPORARY ALTAR AND ART EXHIBIT

OCT 10–NOV 2

FREE to view in Lilly Theater

LUNA Language Services

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Holiday tradition Jingle Rails is “Back Home Again” for 10th year

Eiteljorg Museum Storyteller Magazine

By Bert Beiswanger, director of marketing and communications

F

or the past decade, the Eiteljorg’s Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure has captivated and delighted visitors of all ages.

For the young and young at heart, it has become a cherished holiday tradition. The enchanting model railroad returns Saturday, Nov. 23 with exciting new additions.

Jingle Rails is a fascinating network of G-scale model trains that journey over and through bridges, trestles and tunnels, rolling past iconic scenes and landmarks of Indianapolis and the American West. After exploring replicas of the Circle City, including Monument Circle, Lucas Oil Stadium and Union Station, follow trains to iconic landmarks of the West, including Mount Rushmore, Yosemite, Yellowstone and Old Faithful, Aspen, Las Vegas and Hoover Dam, the Golden Gate Bridge and more. The whimsical representations are all crafted of natural materials such as bark, twigs, leaves, acorns and more, and decked out in

NEW PRESENTING SPONSOR: holiday lighting.

This year, we celebrate the 10th annual Jingle Rails with some fantastic additions: the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway and famous Spanish Colonial missions of the Southwest. We also welcome aboard new presenting sponsor Fifth Third Bank and their building to the downtown scenery. And for the first time, Jingle Rails will have extended hours, open until 8 p.m. every Monday in December.

The artistic interpretation of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will make you truly feel “Back Home Again in Indiana.” The display will feature a working slot-car oval with two fanciful botanical Indy cars that will race around the track to authentic sounds of race day. Other features will include the Pagoda, scoring pylon, flag stand, grandstands, the Yard of Bricks finish line and the Goodyear Blimp flying overhead.

This year’s exhibit introduces two wonderful new additions: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Spanish Colonial missions of the Southwest, including the Alamo.

The journey out West will take visitors to seven historic Spanish Colonial missions of the Southwest, including Mission San Xavier del Bac, the San Francisco de Asis Mission as well as the Alamo.

Each of these landmarks, like everything in Jingle Rails, is recreated in miniature and showcases intricate architectural details created from natural botanical materials.

Jingle Rails was designed and built by Paul Busse and his talented crew of creative, botanical architects and landscape designers at Applied Imagination in Alexandria, Kentucky. The nationally recognized team has created similar displays for the New York Botanical Garden and United States Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. Jingle Rails is one of the most affordable holiday attractions around and is included with regular museum admission.

Children ages four and under are free. Over the years it has Fall/Winter 2019-2020

received national acclaim and been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Midwest Living, Fox News Travel, USA Today and more.

Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure will remain open through Martin Luther King Jr. Day. #JingleRails

JINGLE RAILS: THE GREAT WESTERN ADVENTURE

NOV 23, 2019– JAN 20, 2020

Open until 8 p.m. Mondays: Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 SPONSORED BY:

The Kortepeter Family Anonymous

Check www.eiteljorg.org for discounts.

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Calendar

We’re adding new programs and events all the time.

Visit www.eiteljorg.org and sign up for our e-newsletter to stay up to date on Eiteljorg Museum happenings.

Visit www.eiteljorg.org for details or call 317.636.9378 to register or purchase event tickets. All events are included with general admission unless otherwise noted. General admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and over, and $8 for youth ages 5 to17 and college students with student ID. Children ages 4 and under are free. Museum members enjoy free admission, unless otherwise noted. Parking is free, when spaces are available, in the White River State Park underground garage for visitors to the museum, cafe or museum store, unless otherwise noted.

ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

Saturday

Tuesday

OCT 5

Preview: 10 a.m.

Live Auction: 3 p.m.

Navajo Rug Auction and Preview Enjoy the only Midwest auction conducted by the R.B. Burnham & Co. Trading Post auctioneer. Shoppers can preview the Navajo rugs up for auction. The auction begins at 3 p.m. and offers more than 250 contemporary and vintage textiles.

Saturday

OCT 5

7–11 p.m.

Agave Gala The 2019 Casino Royale gala at the Eiteljorg is hosted by Young Professionals of Central Indiana and Agave, the museum’s young professional network. It includes complimentary top-shelf cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live casino games and entertainment from DJ George Butler.

Tickets are available at YPCI.net or via Eventbrite at https://bit.ly/2GHjju3.

Contact mwhistler@eiteljorg.com or 317.275.1316 for details.

NOV 5

Thursday

OCT 24

6–9 p.m.

Gala honoring Stan and Sandy Hurt Join us for a special gala honoring Stan and Sandy Hurt. Enjoy cocktails and dinner and hear from President and CEO John Vanausdall and other community leaders, recognizing the extraordinary lives of the Hurts and their generous contributions to the Eiteljorg Museum and the Central Indiana community.

Reservations are $250 for individuals, up to $5,000 for a table. RSVP to Cassandra Sanborn at 317.275.1360 or csanborn@eiteljorg.com by Oct 17.

Friday

NOV 1

Noon–12:20 p.m.

Curator’s Choice Series: Have Art, Will Travel Collections staff will offer a behind-the-scenes look at how, why, and where art from the Eiteljorg collection goes out on loan nationally and internationally.

6 p.m.

Edward Kabotie Presentation: An Alternative History of America Edward Kabotie is a multi-faceted Hopi/Tewa artist and musician who incorporates a variety of instruments and languages to create moving compositions. Kabotie includes original songs and art from a Hopi perspective in his presentation.

NOV 20

5:30–6:30 p.m.

Western Book Club: Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides Join us for a discussion of the journey of Kit Carson.

Friday & Saturday

NOV 15–16 Blurring the Line: The Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship 2019 Opening Events • Friday, Nov. 15, 5–7 p.m.: Welcoming celebration for the five Eiteljorg Fellowship artists.

Admission: $50 Mathew Alan Kirk (Navajo) • Friday, Nov. 15, 7:30–10 p.m.: Gravel Top, 2017 Mixed media on paper After-party with DJ, dancing 38 x 50 inches and art-making, with a separate Museum Purchase: Eiteljorg Fellowship admission fee ($25 for members, $35 for non-members) or included with admission to the 5 p.m. celebration event.

• Saturday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m.: Gallery tour of the Blurring the Line exhibition.

• Saturday, Nov. 16, 10:30 a.m. to noon: Moderated panel discussion with Fellowship artists.

Details at eiteljorg.org. For reservations to any of the special events, contact Cassandra Sanborn at 317.275.1360 or csanborn@eiteljorg.com.

Exhibition open to the public Celebrate the Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship and the exhibition Blurring the Line. (See story, page 2.)

OCT 26

10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Community Celebration Celebrate Day of the Dead with free admission at the Eiteljorg Museum with partner Nopal Cultural. Watch musical and dance performances, meet artists in residence Richard Gabriel, Jr. and Ricardo Serment, create art and shop in the mercado. (See story, page 6.)

Saturday

NOV 23 Opening Day Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure Presented by Fifth Third Bank A family favorite holiday tradition returns with new, exciting additions. See G-scale trains chug through the Indianapolis skyline and landmarks of the West, with scenes made of all-natural materials. NEW This Year: The iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway and historic Spanish Colonial missions of the Southwest. Jingle Rails continues through Jan. 20 and is open late until 8 p.m.

Mondays in December. (See story, page 6.)

DEC 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 Jingle Rails is open until 8 p.m.

Eiteljorg Museum Storyteller Magazine

Monday

NOV 25

10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Members Appreciation Day Members who stop by the Eiteljorg Nov. 25 will receive a free cup of coffee, a treat from the museum and can enter to win a prize.

OCT 10–NOV 2 Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Community Art and Altar Exhibit Peruse elaborate altars designed by local artists and organizations to honor the lives of those who have passed. See artwork celebrating Day of the Dead created by local artist Carlos Sosa and add a personal note onto the community ofrenda (altar).

NOV 23–DEC 9 Toys for Turtle Mountain Our annual toy drive is for children on the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Reservation in Belcourt, N.D. Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off inside the museum’s main entrance.

Monetary donations also are accepted to cover transporting toys to the Chippewa reservation.

Contact Alisa Nordholt-Dean at anordholt-dean@eiteljorg.com or 317.275.1319 with questions.

NOV 29–30

NOV 16–FEB 2

Saturday

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Wednesday

Saturdays

DEC 7, 14 & 21

1 p.m.

The Polar Express Celebrate the holiday season at the Eiteljorg with a screening of the film The Polar Express (rated G).

THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related materials are trademarks of Warner Bros Entertainment Inc.

10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Thanksgiving Weekend Meet artist in residence Katrina Mitten (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma) and learn about her beadwork and Miami culture. Watch artist demonstrations, create art and see the museum’s annual holiday display, Jingle Rails.

Saturday

NOV 30

10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Drum Making Workshop with Tony Showa Tony Showa (Navajo) will share teachings through Native American stories and songs, while leading you through the process of making your own Native American hand drum. Fee. Pre-registration required at eiteljorg.org.

Saturday

OCT 26

10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Richard Gabriel, Jr. New Mexico artist Richard Gabriel, Jr. creates traditional Spanish Colonial tinwork. Meet Richard and create your own punched tin ornament during Day of the Dead, Oct. 26.

Saturdays

NOV 9, 16, 23

1–4 p.m.

Open Studio: Katherine Dickerson (Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma) Through her traditional beadwork, Katherine Dickerson shares stories and history. She creates bags, belts, beaded gourds and footwear in the same way they were made in the 1800s. Meet Katherine and learn about her art and culture during her open studio sessions.

NOV 25–30

Various times Katrina Mitten (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma) An artist from Indiana — her tribal homeland — Katrina Mitten pursues embroiderystyle Native beadwork, a form of art traditional to the Great Lakes peoples. Meet Katrina and learn about her art and culture.

(Calendar continued on page 10) 9

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Calendar

MEMBERSHIPS AND DONATIONS (Continued from page 9) Thank you to the following donors for memberships and gifts received from April 1–June 30, 2019.

Saturday

JAN 25

Friday

DEC 6

Noon–12:20 p.m.

Curator’s Choice Series: How Do We Make Jingle Rails Happen?

Join Steve Sipe, the Eiteljorg’s director of exhibition and graphic design, as he walks through the process of putting together a family favorite, Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure.

Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra: Trail of Tears Partner Event 7:30 p.m.

Amy Porter performs a moving flute concert including the musical piece Trail of Tears by Michael Daugherty, about the forced removal of Native Americans in the 1830s. Her performance with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra takes place at the Schrott Center for the Arts at Butler University. Reservations: www.icomusic.org. Eiteljorg members get $5 off up to four tickets by using the promo code EJORG when ordering.

Saturday

JAN 18 Please Touch! The Sculptures of Michael Naranjo opens Experience the new exhibition featuring touchable sculptures of bronze and marble that is open through July 26.

Monday

JAN 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Free Admission Enjoy free admission to the Eiteljorg Museum. This is the final day to see our popular holiday model train exhibit Jingle Rails.

Wednesday

JAN 22

5:30–6:30 p.m.

Western Book Club: Nothing Like It In The World Join us for a free evening of discussion of Stephen Ambrose’s narrative history about the Pacific Railroad during the 1860s.

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Friday

FEB 7

Noon Curator’s Choice Series: Michael Naranjo Meet renowned sculptor Michael Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo) and visit his featured exhibition.

Saturday

FEB 15

1 p.m.

Leon Jett Memorial Lecture: The Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in the American West Award-winning author and cultural documentarian Candacy Taylor will discuss the Green Book and the roots of black travel in the American West. A book signing will follow.

My Door Is Always Open

M

any of you know that I recently lost my biological dad. All is good on my end and he is resting with dignity. Unfortunately, he didn’t have everything set up in terms of his wishes. I became the “go to” person.

Forgive me, but I’m going to rant a second.

It never ceases to amaze me how people come out of the woodwork when they think there might be money involved. Have you experienced this? I don’t know about you, but I certainly don’t want someone else dividing up what I leave behind without my input.

On this topic, without the rant…

Have you created a Donor Advised Fund? Are you thinking about it? Jonathan and I have considered it. For right now, we have decided that directing our dollars to a nonprofit would help that organization immediately, and that’s the impact we want today.

However, we haven’t ruled out one for the future.

Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) are an interesting vehicle for charitable giving.

One thing about a DAF is that it is irrevocable — meaning when we establish it with our hard-earned money, we’ve made the choice that the money will go for a charitable cause, during our lifetime and even after we pass.

Most interesting to us is that we can decide what charitable organization(s) are the beneficiaries after we’re gone. If we’ve supported an organization during our lifetime, we would like them to get the money after we’re gone, right? We don’t want the financial institution to make that decision for us.

Should we choose to set up a DAF in the future, we will make certain our favorite nonprofits reap the reward of our passing.

If you’ve established a DAF or are thinking about one, I hope you consider the Eiteljorg Museum as a beneficiary. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to discuss this further.

For those of you who have gotten to know me, understand that I genuinely care about you, I care about the museum, but most importantly, I care about donor intent.

Your money from your DAF, or any other giving vehicle you’ve chosen, will be used in the way you intend. Let’s talk!

My door is always open.

AUG. 1-8, 2020

If you love to travel and enjoy learning about art, history and cultures, then don’t miss our next Eiteljorg Eagle Society trip with exciting stops in Alaska, including: • Several days in Anchorage with tours of the Anchorage Museum and Alaska Native Heritage Center • Visits with Native American artists • Scenic wildlife and glacier cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park • Deluxe dome railcar journey • Overnight in Denali National Park Reservations are filling up, so contact Cassandra Sanborn at 317.275.1360 or csanborn@eiteljorg.com for details and prices.

All my best,

Nataly Lowder Vice President for Advancement 317.275.1311 nlowder@eiteljorg.com

P.S. How are you doing with your Will Challenge from the last Note From Nataly? We have found an estate attorney and are setting up our appointment. Have you?

Eiteljorg Museum Storyteller Magazine

ALASKA ADVENTURE AWAITS FOR EITELJORG’S EAGLE SOCIETY

Eiteljorg Eagle Society members in 2019 enjoyed a Montana trip that included dinner at the Bozeman home of Eagle members Karen and Bud Colglazier, joined by several Western artists.

Due to space limitations, only contributions of $100 or more are listed with the exception of annual fund memorial and honorarium gifts. If your name is not listed as you would like it to be, or if it has been omitted, please accept our apologies and call 317.275.1311.

Membership gifts ($125 and above) Vision Circle Cumulative giving in 2019 of $25,000 and above Steve Cagle Bill and Roberta Witchger Chairperson’s Circle Cumulative giving in 2019 of $10,000-$24,999 L.G. and Alyce Edwards Henry and Louise Leander Virginia Merkel Mel and Joan Perelman

President’s Society Cumulative giving in 2019 of $5,000-$9,999 John and Karen Colglazier Ellen M. Reed Thomas and Evelyn Seeley Marion Wolen Golden Eagle Society $2,500–$4,999 Dawn and Tom Bennett Terry and Connie Marbach Dr. and Mrs. Randall G. Rowland John Vanausdall Eagle Society $1,500–$2,499 LaMarr Easter and Cary Neeley Jane S. Farber Tim Garnett and Peter Slaymaker Richard Hailey and Mary Beth Ramey Vicky and Benny Ko Nataly and Jonathan Lowder Delores Muller Dr. Newell O. Pugh, Jr. Amanda and Eric Rail Dr. and Mrs. George Rapp Robert and Barbara Shortle Michael P. Skehan

Chad Slaughter and Jillian McCarty Lindsay and Andrew Thornton Chris and Whitney Trede Philip and Shandon Whistler Dr. Oksana and Peter Withey Patron Members $500–$999 Anonymous Susan and Mark Hoffert Mr. and Mrs. Harry R. McLaughlin, Jr. Boris E. Meditch* Gail Plater and William M. Plater Miriam Robeson Marjorie and Karl Schnelle Sustaining Members $250–$499 John and Joann Birdzell Dr. and Mrs. John J. Coleman, III Dr. Judith Erickson Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Eleanor Hingtgen David Hughes John and Ingrid Mail Jim and Inge Maresh Christina Morris Jane R. Nolan Joseph and Sharon Olson Steven and Andrea Richel

IN MEMORIAM The Eiteljorg recently lost two longtime former members of its Board of Directors.

Both made a lasting impact on the museum.

Edward M. Cockerill, M.D., 1936-2019 A leading physician and professor in the medical field of radiology, Dr. Ed Cockerill served on the IU School of Medicine Radiology Department faculty for 32 years, earning many awards and honors. Ed and his wife of 57 years, Phyllis Cockerill, have been enthusiastic patrons of the Eiteljorg Museum, attending many museum galas and exhibition-opening celebrations. Over the years, Ed served as an Eiteljorg guide and board member, and along with Phyllis was a founding member of The Western Art Society, a group that makes possible the annual Quest for the West ® Art Show and Sale and acquisition of important Western artwork. Ed was a loving husband, father and grandfather, and was a treasured supporter of the museum. After his passing, a visitation service for Ed was held May 10 at the Eiteljorg, attended by his family and many friends.

June K. Swango, 1919-2019 A civic leader, June Swango played an instrumental role at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where she was corporate secretary working with IMS President Tony Hulman and director of credentials, and served on the Indianapolis 500 Festival Committee.

June also served on the White River State Park Commission and was a founding board member of the Museum of Indian Heritage at Eagle Creek State Park (the predecessor to the Eiteljorg.) She was a founding director of the Eiteljorg Museum, serving on the board from 1985 to 1994. She and her late husband, J. Morton Swango, traveled extensively in the American West. In the early 2000s, she gifted 395 Native American items from the Plains, Plateau and Southwest regions to the Eiteljorg — which was the second-largest number of objects donated to the museum at that time.

June also donated more than 100 publications to the museum’s library.

The Eiteljorg Museum staff extend their condolences to the families of Ed Cockerill and June Swango.

Fall/Winter 2019-2020

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*Deceased

MEMBERSHIPS AND DONATIONS

The 14th annual Quest for the West® Art Show and Sale on Sept. 6-7 at the Eiteljorg resulted in more than $1 million in sales of top Western art. Veteran artist Terry Isaac of Penticton, British Columbia, was planning to participate in Quest for the West ® again this year, but he died unexpectedly in July. During Quest, the Eiteljorg paid tribute to Terry Isaac. The museum was honored to be able to show one of his final paintings, Mystic Encounters, above, which was admired by visitors.

Dr. John Cole and Rose Schnell-Cole James W. and Nancy C. Smith Ann and Steve Smith Molly and Jason Sturman James P. White Contributing Members $125–$249 H. Dean and Donna Andrews Andrew and Susan Appel Dr. Nancy Branyas and Mr. Vernon Petri Doug Brooks and Mary Gambone Marsha Brown L. Lang and Jean Brownlee Wayne Craig Forest and Marsha Daugherty John and Susan Davis Becky and Thomas Davis Tom Dittrich Michael Durham Bill and Coleen Ehrig Dale and Janet Fletcher Charles and Louise Gay Dr. Gary and Sharon Graff George Harding Linda Helland-Burns Patricia Herron and Russell Rumansoff Jane Howard Stephen and Anne Jay Ontay and Eugenia Johnson Trudy and Thomas Kaufman Seth Keever and Maggie Loiselle Kay F. Koch Dr. James and Mrs. Ruth Lawrence Barbara and Ron Masters Myles Minton Richard and Cynthia Miyamoto Patricia S. Mohler Rev. Albert Nelson and Ms. Nancy Nelson Patt Norton Robin and Gregory Pemberton Scott and Tracy Phillips Christopher and Kathryn Poling Robert and Janet Redmond Dale and Mary Jo Roberts James and Maureen Ross Mike and Leslie Rubin Nick Runnebohm Michael Sawyers Dianne Seibert

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Frank E. Smurlo, Jr. and Frank E. Smurlo, III John and Lena Snethen Dr. Frederick B. Stehman and Helen Stehman Howard and Marlies Terpning Gerald and Judith Thomas Frank and Jane Walker Ken Wherry Christine Woodward-Duncan H. David and Jane Wright Doug Yost and Kim Mathews Donors All memorial and honorarium gifts are listed. Gifts in other categories are for $100 or more.

Annual Fund and other designated gifts Anonymous (11) Jeffrey and Christine Arnold Shirley and Charles Barker Brian Carberry P.R. Davis Dr. Judith Erickson Douglas Hale and Meg Hardison Eric and Pamela Hinkle Lezlie Laxton Mr. and Mrs. Randall D. Rogers Roger and Barbara Schmenner Thomas and Evelyn Seeley MeLissa and Stephen Williams Robina M. Zink Gifts in Honor and Memory In Memory of June Swango Jim and Jackie Morris John Vanausdall In Memory of Christine Chute Thys Colleen Bailie In Memory of Hanford Mead Twitchell, Jr. Mary Lawrence Rob and Evelyn Twitchell Foundation, corporation and government gifts $50,000 and above Anonymous $10,000–$49,999 Boren Foundation Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation, Inc.

$5,000–$9,999 Ayres Foundation, Inc. Barnes & Thornburg LLP Care Institute Group, Inc. Wilhelm Construction Co. $2,000–$4,999 Arts Midwest Faegre Baker Daniels LLP Paul I. Cripe Charitable Foundation Roberts Camera The Penrod Society $200–$1,999 Indy Hub Foundation JPMorgan Chase & Co. Kite Cares Grant Committee LUNA Language Services Polaris Property Management The International Center Matching gift companies Capital Group Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, Inc. IBM Corporation Matching Grants Program In-Kind gifts Faegre Baker Daniels LLP Honeymoon Image & Design Hot Box Pizza Indianapolis Fruit Company Needler’s Fresh Market Printing Partners Republic National Distributing Company John Vanausdall Project 2021 capital campaign gifts Anonymous Jasmin French Dr. and Mrs. Randall G. Rowland Project 2021 Endowment Gannett In Memory of Ed Cockerill Anna and Martin Baker Mary Beth and Robert Braitman Richard T. Buck Phyllis Cockerill Mike and Melissa Copher Mrs. Dorothy Y. Elliott John and Elizabeth Fawcett Tom and Patty Gibbs Kay Hinds Ms. Jean Hornback Mr. and Mrs. S. Michael Hudson Don and Jane Hunt Tom and Gretchen Jeffers Susan Keating

Dr. and Mrs. Lance E. Longnecker Steve and Sue Longnecker Susie and Howard Maxwell David and Ann McNamar Patt Norton Daniel Salvas and Colleen Madden Thomas and Evelyn Seeley Andrew and Anne Sellers Mike and Liz Simmons Dan and Elizabeth Smith Cathy Turner Mr. and Mrs. Stephen D. Zimmerman Jack and Sue Zinser Western Art Society gifts Ryan C. Fuhrmann Exhibitions and Special Events Blurring the Lines: 2019 Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship Presenting sponsor Lilly Endowment Sponsored by Efroymson Family Fund, a Central Indiana Community Foundation Fund Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure Presented by Fifth Third Bank Sponsored by Anonymous Katz Sapper & Miller The Kortepeter Family Cowpokes & Cocktails Sponsors Steve Cagle Mr. and Mrs. Ronald W. Dollens Fred and Angie Green Steve and Jane Marmon Donations Karen and Joseph Glaser Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Schloss Barbara West Indian Market & Festival Sponsors Mel and Joan Perelman Friends of Indian Market & Festival Pat and Robert Anker Dawn and Tom Bennett Steve Cagle Leslie Donchetz and Michael Dick L.G. and Alyce Edwards Roger and Mindy Eiteljorg Linda Gilman Drs. Martha and Michael Hill

Hannah Claus (Bay of Quinte Mohawk) There is a Reason for Our Connection, 2019, rawhide (white-tailed deer), imitation sinew, copper, aluminum, 60 x 16 x 4 inches (approx.)

Loan courtesy of the artist.

Part of the exhibition Blurring the Line: The Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship 2019.

Eiteljorg Museum Storyteller Magazine

*Deceased

Polly H. Hix and Tony J. Fair Cindy and Robert Hoye Larry and Connie Kane Kelly and Stephan Masoncup Carolyn and Gary Mueller Dr. Newell O. Pugh, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Reilly, Jr. Thomas and Evelyn Seeley Cathy Turner Martha and John Tynan Gil Waldman and Christy Vezolles Don and Angela Woodley Gas Cards for Artists gifts Janice E. Knaus Ellen M. Reed Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award Pat and Robert Anker Pam and Gary Jursik Gita and Joseph Osborne Ellen M. Reed Quest for the West Art Show and Sale Sponsors Dr. Caryn C. Anderson and Mr. David Anderson L.G. and Alyce Edwards Faegre Baker Daniels Tom and Patty Gibbs Gita and Joseph Osborne Mel and Joan Perelman Patsy Solinger Bill and Roberta Witchger ®

Exhibit honoring H. David Wright Ann W. King Fund, a fund of the Indianapolis Foundation Michelle Haynes and Dick Reese Day of the Dead Anonymous Christel DeHaan Family Foundation, a Central Indiana Community Foundation Fund Ice Miller LLP International Center Festival Fund Luna Language Services The Indianapolis Foundation Pené shna Bodéwadmi ndawmen (Always, We Are Potawatomi) Sponsored by Indiana Humanities

BECOME AN EITELJORG GUIDE Are you a lifelong learner?

Would you like to share the museum with others?

Volunteer as an Eiteljorg guide. Tour guides receive special training on how to discuss art, history and cultures with visitors. The 2019-20 class begins Oct. 21. To volunteer as a guide, contact volunteers@eiteljorg.com or call 317.275.1325. *Deceased

H. David Wright The Cold Gray Fog of Dawn, 2011 Oil 20 x 30 inches Loan courtesy of Robert and Barbara Hunter

Reliving history with Artist of Distinction David Wright

By Johanna M. Blume, interim curator of Western art, history and culture

D

avid Wright is best known for his paintings of the early American frontier and the people who shaped it. His focus on the frontiersman archetype, or “longhunter,” helped to establish his reputation as one of the top artists working in this genre. He is one of a small group of painters who have carved their own path through the Western art world, those who march to a different drum.

The 2018 Quest for the West® Artist of Distinction — whose work is on view at the Eiteljorg through Nov. 17 — was born in 1942 in Rosine, Ky. He was raised in Kentucky and Tennessee and today lives outside of Nashville. Art was a part of his life from an early age, and he remembers his mother drawing pictures for him when he was a small child. One of Last year, artist H. David Wright of Wright’s earliest pieces, a small painting of a dog, was done Gallatin, Tenn., was named by The when he was 15. It hangs in his studio today, a reminder of Western Art Society as the Artist of where he started. He gravitated towards subject matter that Distinction at the Quest for the West reflected the history of his home state, including the American Art Show and Sale.

Frontier, and the Civil War. Image courtesy of Brittany Erwin Photography.

He painted his first image of a mountain man in 1976. It was published as a limited-edition print by a company based in Nashville, Tenn. The popularity of the print, and the positive response Wright received for this new subject matter, encouraged him to finally leave the commercial art world and begin painting full time. He focused on landscapes early in his career, but by the 1980s was concentrating on paintings of frontiersmen and the Native American cultures of the Eastern Woodlands region.

Historical accuracy is extremely important to Wright. He researches his subjects through primary and secondary written sources, as well as through material culture that he personally collects or that he finds in museum collections. In addition to these more traditional research avenues, Wright also takes time to immerse himself in the ways of life of the frontiersmen he paints. He refers to his hands-on research as “reliving history,” rather than reenacting it. His goal is to gain a deeper understanding of how frontiersmen lived in and negotiated the landscape by going out into it, and he uses the same kinds of tools and gear authentic to the period. These experiences inform his attention to detail when painting.

Wright’s career as an artist has spanned nearly 50 years. He continues to find inspiration in the land around his home in Gallatin, Tenn., and in the history of the region. Wright takes great satisfaction in the process of researching the particular period of history that has captured his H. DAVID WRIGHT: MARCHING TO A imagination, and then translating DIFFERENT DRUM that into a visual medium. He Special exhibit of the Quest for the West ® Artist of Distinction hopes to share that satisfaction — and the experience of history — CONTINUING THROUGH NOV 17 with those who view his paintings.

Gerald and Dorit Paul Gallery ®

Fall/Winter 2019-2020

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White River State Park • 500 W. Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46204 www.eiteljorg.org

COMING IN THE FEBRUARY ISSUE

QUILTS: UNCOVERING WOMEN’S STORIES MARCH 7–AUG 9, 2020 Quilts embody personal stories and symbolize community relationships.

They document people, places and events, and serve as visual records — ones created largely by women — that help us study and understand Western art, history and culture. Using quilts from throughout the American West, including Native America, this exhibition in 2020 will explore the diverse experiences of women in the West.

Diane Breman and Karen Colglazier Not Just a Dream, 2004 Cotton, leather, wool, mother-of-pearl, pewter, brass, horsehair Image courtesy of the artists

PLEASE TOUCH! THE SCULPTURES OF MICHAEL NARANJO JAN 18–JULY 26, 2020 This fascinating exhibition features touchable sculptures of bronze and marble by renowned artist Michael Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo) as part of an initiative to share art with visitors who are visually impaired.

Sponsorships for Eiteljorg exhibits and programs are available. Contact Susan St. Angelo at 317.275.1333 or sstangelo@eiteljorg.com Celebrating Stay connected with the Eiteljorg on social media and at eiteljorg.org.

30 Years You can also sign up for our weekly e-newsletter at eiteljorg.org. of Telling Amazing Stories

Celebrating

30 Years of Telling Amazing Stories