“Moccasins are often compared to our western and Eurocentric perception of shoes which are pro
“Moccasins are often compared to our western and Eurocentric perception of shoes which are produced for the masses. This could not be further from the truth when speaking about moccasins. In order for a pair to be made, historically, the animal would have been sacrificed as part of a community event, possibly ceremonial, thanks and prayers would be given for both the animal and the wearer, and the remainder of the animal would have been used for food, and/or additional clothing for those who need it. The moccasins are made for a specific individual, there is no standard sizing. The designs are not just decorations but are often meant to identify the individual and where they come from, sometimes also to ask ancestors for protection. Moccasins could not be more specific, whereas the bronze statues are composites of ‘Indians’ even if based on the modeling of an actual person. They are theatrical representations of the artist’s perception of Native people and also western culture’s fantasies, desires and fears of Native people. Positioning the sculptures and objects in context of the other is meant to draw attention to individuals and communities representing themselves versus someone representing someone else incorrectly." —Jeffrey GibsonIn observance of National Native American Heritage Month, this November we’ll be exploring the themes of the exhibition When Fire Is Applied to a Stone It Cracks, with commentary from both Jeffrey Gibson and historian Dr. Christian Ayne Crouch.Installation views, Jeffrey Gibson: When Fire Is Applied to a Stone It Cracks, Brooklyn Museum, February 14, 2020 - January 10, 2021 -- source link
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