Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists By Kristin Gentry
Anita Fields (Osage, b. 1951), Osage Wedding Coat, 2018, wool, satin, silk, embroidery, beads, clay buttons, top hat, feathers, Coat: 45” x 58” x 18”, Hat: 20” x 20”, Photo courtesy of Anita Fields, L2018.194, Photograph: Tom Fields
“Everyone takes these beautiful black and white photos of our men. The women—the grandmas, mothers, and aunties created what the men wore. They were carrying the power and the legacy, silently.” —Jessa Rae Growing Thunder (Dakota and Nakoda) It’s been expressed that this exhibition has been in the making for over a decade, or even that the art in it spans the last one thousand years, but in reality, this exhibition has been in the making since the first indigenous woman was created. With over 115 pieces of art, Hearts of Our People is
14
p re v i e w
creating the change for Native women artists, for North America, and even creating change within our fine art museums and institutions. The positive outpouring on social media, the press, and the shift in museum operations because of this landmark exhibition is taking root all around us. During her interview, Teri Greeves (Kiowa), co-curator of Hearts of Our People, said that when institutions only have white culture saying what we as Native women artists are—we need to tell in our own voice, what we are. The material culture is what man can hold. Our voice is through our story, our dances, our ceremony. Not our beads.” It’s exciting that this essential need in the fine art world for Native women is happening right here in Oklahoma with the Philbrook Museum of Art, and includes so many of our own artists, writers, and curators.
