Sunday, September 26, 2021

A Visit to the Heard Museum: the Grand Procession

This is going to be a very long post filled with photos, so I'm not going to say much as an introduction. When Denis and I visited the Heard Museum, my primary aim was to see one specific collection, and the second I entered the room, I fell in love. The collection is called Grand Procession: Contemporary Plains Indian Dolls from the Charles and Valerie Diker Collection and if you click on the link, you'll be taken to the Heard Museum's website where you can read a little about it. Needless to say, when I was reading some of the informative signing in the room and learned that there was a book about these dolls, I first checked with the museum's bookshop before going home to find a copy online.

But enough blather. Let me take you into the Sandra Day O'Connor Room to see these fabulous creations!
 

As you enter the Sandra Day O'Connor Room.

Case after case of incredible artistry.

Blackfeet Family Group. Artist: Jamie Okuma.

Blackfeet Family Group. Reverse side.

Lady in Red, Lakota Woman. Artist: Jamie Okuma.

Preston & Skylar, a Cayuse Warrior & Horse. Artist: Jamie Okuma.

Preston & Skylar, detail.

Preston & Skylar, detail.

Northern Cheyenne Women. Artist: Joyce Growing Thunder.

Northern Cheyenne Women. If you didn't look at the back of each doll, you could miss out on a lot of detail.

Denis had to come back in the room to see what was taking me so long. Can you blame me for taking my time?

Ghost Dancer. Artist: Rhonda Holy Bear.

Interview With a Warrior. Artist: Rhonda Holy Bear.

Horse and Rider. Artists: Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty & Joye Growing Thunder. "There is nothing fast about what we do. Everything is tedious. From sorting quills to the tiny fine beadwork. You can't do it if you are upset. You make mistakes and have to backtrack. Mom always told me you have to work on things in a good way...  because you are putting yourself-- your prayers and your thoughts-- into your work."

The Showstopper: Maternal Journey. Artist: Rhonda Holy Bear. "Maternal Journey celebrates the cycle of life. It is an homage to the strength and dignity of the Plains mother. I depict the maternal theme on multiple levels. The mother and the mare are guiding their young into the future. The twins face backward, as they are pulled ahead on the road. They are looking to the past for guidance, as they move toward their destiny."

Maternal Journey

Maternal Journey

Maternal Journey

Maternal Journey, detail.

Maternal Journey, detail.

Maternal Journey, detail.

Maternal Journey, detail.

Maternal Journey, detail.

Maternal Journey, detail.

 
I think the reason why I fell massively in love with this exhibit is because of my grandmother. She collected antique dolls. She would haunt estate sales-- especially when she knew that the woman who lived on the farm or in the house was handy with a needle and thread. These folks' mantra was "Make Do and Mend," and she was usually successful in finding small bits of lace, tiny beads, and other sewing notions. Why? Because she needed them to redress those old dolls-- many of which came unclothed. When my grandmother was through, these old dolls had dresses with bustles and hoopskirts and tiers of lace and tiny beads sewn into patterns along the bodices and hems. She made soft sculpture dolls, too. She also made my Barbie dolls' entire wardrobes. I know how tedious so much of the work was. How it could cross her eyes, make the tips of her fingers sore, and make her back ache.
 
I also knew what labors of love these all were. As Marie Kondo would say, this gave my grandmother Joy.
 
But even without those memories of my grandmother, I am still in awe of these women's incredible artistry and workmanship. What treasures these dolls are, and I am so glad I was able to see them!

19 comments:

  1. I am just gobsmacked. I can well understand why you fell in love with this exhibit. Those dolls are just exquisite, so elaborate. All of the work that went into making each one is amazing to consider.
    I am fascinated with all of those titled "Maternal Journey." Just beautiful. And the baby is adorable. I am fascinated by whatever the two chcildren were sitting on. Is it a bench attached to the horse? If so, this is a first for me to see.

    What a fantastic exhibit and museum. If I lived near there, I'd be visiting often.

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    1. The thing the twins are sitting on is a travois, which probably wouldn't be very comfortable when going over rough ground. They were usually used more for packing and hauling household items and food than for providing transportation for people.

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  2. How absolutely beautiful, Cathy! It's breathtaking! I am so amazed by the intricate work on even the smaller things, and it all comes together to make such amazing artwork. I love the way beauty is woven in with function. I'm going to archive this and look back on it when I need to look at beauty. And I hope that when it's safer to travel again, I'll get a chance to visit the museum.

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    1. I wish this were a permanent exhibition, but it's not. :-(

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  3. What an amazing exhibit! The detail is unbelievable and the artistic talent of the creators is awesome. I wonder how many hours went into creating each amazing piece. How wonderful to be able to visit in person!

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    1. I think that, if we knew exactly how many hours of labor went into the making of these wonderful works of art, our minds would be well and truly boggled.

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  4. Those dolls are absolutely incredible. It's hard to imagine the amount of talent...and patience...it must take to create something that beautiful, especially in that scale. It reminds me a little of the Plains Indians Museum I spent some time in in Cody, Wyoming, in July. I was awestruck by what I saw there.

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    1. I would love to be able to visit that museum in Cody.

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  5. What amazing work! I have always loved dolls and miniature worlds. When I was young my family visited South Dakota and my sister and I brought home souvenirs of a beaded purse, a female doll with beaded dress and a baby in a beaded cradle board. That picture of the baby on the cradle board from the Maternal Journey brought back memories. Thanks for sharing!

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  6. Well, keep all the photos you can if it's not a permanent exhibit.

    I find it amazing that these women could find all of the materials used for the dolls. And if one thinks about the time spent making them, I would estimate it took days for each one.

    I mean it takes me an evening to hem three pairs of pants. So, this must take days to do all the intricate work and find all of the materials.

    Now this artwork and skill are worth the value of the paintings by famous "classic" artists.

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    1. If they have other jobs-- and I would imagine that they do-- I could see it taking weeks or even months to finish one of the larger pieces.

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    2. Yes. And I wonder how long it took to gather all the beads and other beautiful materials. Awesome in the truest meaning of the word.

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  7. Thanks so much for sharing! Since it's a temporary exhibit, I enjoyed seeing it vicariously instead of planning to get there myself (sigh!).

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    1. I'll have to read up and see where the exhibit's permanent home is.

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  8. I just can't get over this exhibit. I mean how could these women find all of their materials, given the difficulties of their lives?

    I think it shows once again that people will make art wherever they can, using the materials they ccan find. So uplifting.

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  9. Just beautiful. Such detail.

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