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Cache of historic Native American photos displayed in rare exhibit

BY ALEX GALLAGHER

GetOut Staff Writer

The works of one of the most influential and controversial American photographers are now on display at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Two years of planning went into the exhibit of prolific photographer Edward S. Curtis’s works, which are from exhibition co-curator, collector and trustee Tim Peterson, who began collecting the works of Curtis over a decade ago. “Edward S. Curtis is considered one of the foremost American photographers and a controversial photographer in America based on his photographs of Native American people, which we discuss throughout our exhibit,” said Dr. Tricia Loscher, the assistant director of collections, exhibitions and research and co-curator of the exhibit at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Peterson grew up with a love of the outdoors, Western American history and collecting things. When he put those things together, he began looking for things dealing with the American west. The Boston resident started collecting items that had ties to the famous explorers Lewis and Clark and later stumbled on Curtis’ work. Peterson was drawn to those photographs, explaining, “One of the things that I’ve always been intrigued by is people that will commit and dedicate their lives to a project.” Curtis lived between 1868 and 1952 but his career in photography only lasted a fraction of his life. At an early age, he went with his family to Washington state and began working in a lumber yard. During his 20’s, Curtis sustained a back injury and decided it was time to work a job that wasn’t as physically demanding.Because he had long loved photography, he decided to open his own photography studio. Unfortunately, the studio closed. Unscathed by the business’ failure, Curtis became intrigued by the native people who called Puget Sound, Washington, home. He began photographing them and quickly found his calling. In 1900, Curtis decided to begin photographing Native Americans of the American west and did so until around 1930. Curtis was most inspired by a now debunked belief called the “myth of the vanishing Indian” that was among white cultures and that reinforced their false belief that American Indians and their traditions were disappearing forever. Throughout his career, Curtis visited seven regions of the American West and had early support from big names like President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt and J.P. Morgan. Curtis’ works were distributed through a series of 20 volumes titled “The North American Indian,” which the now-defunct New York Herald said was “the most ambitious enterprise in publishing since the production of the King James Bible.” The exhibition at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West features photos from each volume. “When Curtis was taking photos, photography was a new medium of art and he was breaking new ground in terms of the photography he was taking and the mediums he was creating,” said Loscher. In addition to the photos, the museum walls are lined with quotes referencing Curtis’ work and words that came directly from the photographer. One of the most striking quotes on the walls is one that came from Curtis’ friend, mentor, and lifelong supporter George Bird Grinnell. The quote reads “The results which Curtis gets with his camera stir one as one is stirred by a great painting, and when we are thus moved by a picture, and share the thought and feeling that the artist had when he made the picture, we may recognize it as a work of art.” There are also unique artifacts throughout the exhibition, including a copy of the type of camera Curtis used, cultural items and symbols. There is even a phonograph bearing a description and QR code that guests can scan and hear a song recorded by Curtis’ team. Another striking

piece in the exhibition is a timeline that details Curtis’ life and events from Native American history. “I really see this collection as being a study center for the next year and a half and my hope is that it will generate dialogue with the community and indigenous people,” said Loscher. While Loscher hopes the exhibit will spur conversations of the history of Native Americans in the American West, she also hopes for discussions about Curtis’ photos as well. “It’s my hope that once we get more programming going again, we can have some conversations and panel discussions where we bring indigenous people here to talk about what is seen in these photos,” said Loscher. As for Peterson, he hopes that guests will take notice of the unique variations of the photographs on display. “I hope people will notice some images Edward Curtis’ influential and controversial photos of Native Americans of in four to six different mediums. We did the West in the early 1900s that are now on display at Western Spirit: Scott- that because we wanted people to appresdale’s Museum of the West. (Ashleigh Carpenter/GetOut Contributing Photog- ciate the diversity of the work,” he said. rapher) “I hope when people look at it, they don’t scoff at it being the same image but admire that Curtis worked with platinum, silver and turned something flat into something that had a three-dimensional look to it.” ■ The exhibit includes a number of artifacts, including an example of one of the cameras used by Curtis. (Ashleigh Carpenter/GetOut/Contributing Photographer)