The homelands of more than 75 Native American communities are represented in paintings of 14 remarkable landscapes in the Tacoma Art Museum exhibit In native land: Landscapes of Haub Family Collection opening on November 6. These communities will be recognized in the written land acknowledgments that appear on the labels next to each painting in the gallery.
Landscape painting as a genre often focuses on a single place, environment or moment in nature. As meditations on the power of the natural world, landscapes are often devoid of signs of human presence. On native land expands the ways viewers interpret these landscapes by adding historical contexts that recognize the many different Native American communities whose native lands are depicted in the paintings.
“We invite visitors to explore and share with us Indigenous land ownership, treaty rights, reserves and place names while considering the history of the land,” says Faith Brower, Curator Haub of Western American art. “By connecting with members of the tribes whose homelands are represented in On native land, my hope is to learn more about how these places remain vital and meaningful to Native American communities today.
The exhibition shares perspectives on the subject of land recognition in articles, videos and other resources in the gallery and online. QR codes in the gallery will encourage visitors to engage with online resources highlighting Native American voices and responses that are relevant to the lands depicted in the works on display.
“On native land offers visitors the opportunity to explore landscape paintings while recognizing the important cultural history of the earth, ”said David F. Setford, Managing Director. “This exhibit continues efforts at the Museum to think broadly about the ways works of art are interpreted and how TAM can better work with communities to share important stories. “
The sensitization of Native American communities to deepen research on the illustrated lands continues. The exhibit and related online documents will be updated as more information on the landscapes is gathered. The exhibition will be visible until 2023.
TAM would like to thank the advisers who consulted on this exhibit, in particular Amber Hayward (Puyallup Tribe) and Charlotte Basch (Puyallup Tribe). Basch’s curatorial work on landscape paintings and honoring Indigenous communities inspired TAM’s work on the subject. The Museum also thanks the artists Chris Duenas (Puyallup) and Anthony Duenas (Puyallup) for creating the logo for the exhibition.
This exhibition is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Haub Family Foundation. Additional funding provided by ArtsFund and Tacoma Creates.
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About the Tacoma Art Museum
Celebrating over 85 years, the Tacoma Art Museum is the premier resource for art in the Pacific Northwest and the Greater Western Region. TAM’s mission is to transform our communities by sharing art that inspires broader perspectives and cultivates a compassionate future. TAM’s collection contains more than 5,300 works, with a focus on art and artists from the Northwest and the Western region at large, 25% of which are studio glass. The collection includes the largest retrospective museum collection of glass art by Tacoma native Dale Chihuly on permanent view; the Northwest’s premier collection of artist studio art jewelry; the Haub Family Collection of over 300 works of West American art; key collections of 19th century European and 20th century American art; and one of the finest collections of Japanese prints on the West Coast. TAM is in the heart of Tacoma’s vibrant Museum District, which consists of six museums, including the Glass Museum and the Washington State History Museum. The Tacoma Art Museum is located in the homelands of the Puyallup Indian tribe. We recognize and honor the Puyallup people and the Coast Salish communities who endured so much, so that we can all prosper here today.
