To commemorate the year that was, we invited an array of artists, writers, filmmakers, designers, and performers to share a list of the most noteworthy ideas, events, and objects they encountered in 2019.
Angela Two Stars is a public artist, curator, and director of All My Relations Arts in Minneapolis. She is an enrolled member of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and was born and raised on the Lake Traverse Reservation. She received her BFA from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Angela’s artwork is rooted in language revitalization, and she uses her own language journey to share a deeper understanding of cultural identity and healing through the Dakota language. As recipient of the Walker’s Indigenous Public Art Commission, she is creating the newest work for the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, to be installed in fall 2020.
1.
HEARTS OF OUR PEOPLE AT THE MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART
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Jamie Okuma (Luiseno/Shoshone-Bannock), Adaption II, 2012.
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Christi Belcourt (Métis), The Wisdom of the Universe, 2014, acrylic on canvas
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Nellie Two Bear Gates, Valise,1903
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Ribbon blanket, Osage artist, c. 1950
The HOOP exhibition brought together more than 115 artists from across the US and Canada in recognition and celebration of the creative force that is Indigenous women. While long overdue, the HOOP was a powerful, emotional, and beautiful representation of Native women. Co-curated by Terri Greeves and Jill Auburg-Yough, and with a Native advisory team taking four years to plan, it made me proud to be a Native women and a Native artist. I walked through that exhibition with pride in my heart and was moved to tears to see the enormous talent of Native women artists from the past and today finally being recognized for their strength, innovation, beauty, and talent. The HOOP exhibition is something EVERYONE needs to see!
2.
NEW DIRECTOR OF ALL MY RELATIONS ARTS
In May 2019, I accepted the offer to become the new director of All My Relations Arts. My history with AMRA is significant, and I give credit to the gallery as the place where my career as an artist began. I exhibited for the very first time in a professional setting during the third installment of On Fertile Ground: Native Artists of the Upper Midwest. From that opportunity, the wave began rolling and my artistic profile continued to increase with opportunities as a curator and public artist. I personally know and have experienced the value and importance of AMRA to contemporary Native artists, and with my new position, I am able to continue the mission of the gallery by highlighting the strength of Native artists and provide opportunities to artists like I was given myself.
3.
EIGHT ARTISTS WITHDRAW FROM THE WHITNEY BIENNIAL
Artists including Nicolas Galanin, Korakrit Arunanondchai, Meriem Bennani, and Nicole Eisenman withdrew their work from the exhibition in response to Whiney Board member, William Kanders’s ties to tear gas. This was a powerful stand by a group of artists, regardless of the opportunity at hand, to send a message to the museum for their lack of response to calls for the resignation of Kanders.
4.
WALKER ART CENTER’S INDIGENOUS ARTS COMMISSION
In August, I was notified that I had been selected as the finalist out of more than 50 submissions to the International Call for Art for the Walker Art Center’s Indigenous Arts Commission. It still feels surreal. I was honored and overjoyed that I will be able to tell the larger story of Indigenous languages in a space like the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. I consider my piece to be a conduit that tells the larger story of language revitalization, honoring and speaking the truth of the victims of boarding school era and addressing the trauma caused by the attempted erasure of Native culture and identity and the efforts being made to save our precious languages. Come on a language journey with me…
5.
FORT SNELLING AT BDOTE
The new signs at Fort Snelling were vandalized, and there was a public outcry when the Minnesota History Center added Dakota historically accurate information to the sign by adding two words, Historic Fort Snelling “at Bdote.” At Bdote, those two words caused an uproar with threats by a politician to cut the historical society’s budget over what she calls, “revisionist history.” It’s not revised honey, it’s the full history. Bdote has existed long before that fort did.
6.
MICHELLE OBAMA’S BECOMING
I rarely have time to read, although I love it so much, so instead I listened to Michelle Obama narrate her autobiography, Becoming. It brought up memories of such an uplifting time in our country—remembering where I was when Obama was elected and feeling so much pride and hope for our country. Oh to have those days back… Michelle Obama is our “forever” First Lady.
7.
CLIMATE MARCH
Led by our indelible youth, the climate march was a reminder from those whose futures our actions are affecting, standing up and demanding change. “How dare you?!” is right, Greta!
8.
DIOR’S SAUVAGE
Enough!! Just because Johnny Depp played Tonto does not make him a representative of Indigenous culture. The exploitation and blatant, harmful misrepresentation of Indigenous people through Dior’s misguided campaign was ridiculous. I half wonder if there are advertising people that really are that ignorant or if they still go ahead with controversial ads that offend because they know it will be a controversy and bad publicity is still publicity. Just stop.
9.
JIM DENOMIE SELECTED AS 2019 MCKNIGHT DISTINGUISHED ARTIST
As the first Native American to be chosen for the McKnight Foundation’s prestigious award since it began in 1998, Jim Denomie continues to pave the way for Native artists and continues to be an inspiration for those of us looking up to him.
10.
ILLUMINATIVES: RECLAIMING NATIVE TRUTH PROJECT
Know it. Support it, Learn it. WWW.ILLUMINATIVES.ORG.
IllumiNative’s mission is to illuminate the vibrancy and importance of contemporary Native stories, voices, and issues and to end the invisibility and harmful stereotypes that have dire consequences for Native peoples.
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