Roots and Journeys: Encountering Global Arts and Cultures

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

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Roots and Journeys: Encountering Global Arts and Cultures
Nancy Mahaney, curator
Cassandra Mesick, curator
Celka Straughn, curator
Gallery 404, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

The gallery of Global Indigenous Arts at the Spencer Museum of Art explores artistic inspirations gleaned from nature, heritage, and transcendent experiences. From ancient instruments to reverse glass paintings, these objects speak to the connections of people to place, the importance of traditions, and the essential creativity of the human spirit.

Sculptural works from around the world serve as anchors for discrete segments of the gallery hosting rotations of arts and cultural works from the University’s former ethnographic collections. These works, now accessioned into the Spencer’s collection, are presented in dialogue with new acquisitions and rarely seen works to create new synergies and thought-provoking engagements.

Exhibition images

Works of art

two-hide dress, unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
two-hide dress, late 1800s
pair of leggings, unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
pair of leggings, late 1800s–1918
When Saynday Pulled Us Into This World, Teri Greeves
Teri Greeves
miniature totem pole, Ike Hans
Ike Hans
miniature totem pole, early-mid 1900s
necklace with naja pendant, unrecorded A:shiwi (Zuñi) or Kewa Pueblo (Santo Domingo) artist
unrecorded A:shiwi (Zuñi) or Kewa Pueblo (Santo Domingo) artist
necklace with naja pendant, late 1800s–1954
baleen basket with lid, Hubert Koonuk
Hubert Koonuk
riji (men's pubic covering), unrecorded Australian Aboriginal artist
unrecorded Australian Aboriginal artist
riji (men's pubic covering), late 1800s–1944
horse hair basket, unrecorded Koasati (Coushatta) artist
unrecorded Koasati (Coushatta) artist
horse hair basket, late 1800s–1981
pu (shell horn)
unrecorded Koasati (Coushatta) artist
pu (shell horn), late 1800s–1992
shell and turquoise necklace, unrecorded Kewa Pueblo (Santo Domingo) artist
unrecorded Kewa Pueblo (Santo Domingo) artist
shell and turquoise necklace, late 1800s–1981
coral necklace, unrecorded Pueblo artist
unrecorded Pueblo artist
coral necklace, late 1800s–1981
carved horn spoon, unrecorded Tlingit artist
unrecorded Tlingit artist
carved horn spoon, late 1800s–early 1900s
seal gut bowl or bag, unrecorded Native Arctic artist
unrecorded Native Arctic artist
seal gut bowl or bag, early-mid 1900s
seal shaped feasting dish, unrecorded Haida artist
unrecorded Haida artist
seal shaped feasting dish, late 1800s–early 1900s
hat, unrecorded Karuk (Karok), Natinixwe (Hupa), or Yurok artist
unrecorded Karuk (Karok), Natinixwe (Hupa), or Yurok artist
hat, late 1800s–1917
bag with reptile pattern, unrecorded Wasco artist
unrecorded Wasco artist
vase with Avanyu design, Tonita Martinez Roybal
Tonita Martinez Roybal
Macaw, Miguel Martinez; C. Szwedzicki
Miguel Martinez; C. Szwedzicki
Macaw, 1932
Two Grey Hills rug, Julia Jumbo
Julia Jumbo
Two Grey Hills rug, circa 1959
Shirvan rug
Julia Jumbo
Shirvan rug, late 1800s
carved door, unrecorded Senufo artist
unrecorded Senufo artist
carved door, late 1800s–1975
set of four door panels, unrecorded Nupe artist
unrecorded Nupe artist
set of four door panels, late 1800s–1975
maira-ndu (double ancestor figure), unrecorded Abelam artist
unrecorded Abelam artist
nggwalndu (male spirit figure), unrecorded Abelam artist
unrecorded Abelam artist
portion of a lintel with hornbill birds, unrecorded Abelam artist
unrecorded Abelam artist
totem pole, Luke Watson
Luke Watson
totem pole, 1937
conical hat, unrecorded Haida or Tlingit artist
unrecorded Haida or Tlingit artist
conical hat, late 1800s–1926
Eagle Hat, Preston Singletary
Preston Singletary
Eagle Hat, 2003
human figure, unrecorded Kotyit (Cochiti) artist
unrecorded Kotyit (Cochiti) artist
human figure, late 1800s–1898
rain god figure, unrecorded Tetsuge Owingeh (Tesuque) artist
unrecorded Tetsuge Owingeh (Tesuque) artist
rain god figure, late 1800s
rain god figure, unrecorded Tetsuge Owingeh (Tesuque) artist
unrecorded Tetsuge Owingeh (Tesuque) artist
rain god figure, late 1800s
Emblem of the Universe, Richard Martinez; C. Szwedzicki
Richard Martinez; C. Szwedzicki
Naasra Yeti, Agbogbloshie Market, Accra, Ghana, Pieter Hugo
Pieter Hugo
babban riga (big gown), unrecorded Hausa-Fulani artist
unrecorded Hausa-Fulani artist
egungun mask, unrecorded Oyo artist
unrecorded Oyo artist
egungun mask, late 1950s
iya'lu dundun (talking drum), unrecorded Yoruba artist
unrecorded Yoruba artist
iya'lu dundun (talking drum), late 1800s–1975
khomitshi (beaded panel), unrecorded Ndebele artist
unrecorded Ndebele artist
khomitshi (beaded panel), late 1900s–1979
mapoto (apron), unrecorded Ndebele artist
unrecorded Ndebele artist
mapoto (apron), late 1800s–1982
dondolo (dancing stick), unrecorded Ndebele artist
unrecorded Ndebele artist
beaded sash, unrecorded Potawatomi artist
unrecorded Potawatomi artist
beaded sash, early 1930s
beaded garter (leg band), unrecorded Potawatomi artist
unrecorded Potawatomi artist
#11 - That the Creator free me from all that is not of Him, and that the one who has no equal (the Prophet) set me on the straight path., Yelimane Fall
Yelimane Fall
#19 - The favors I have received from God do not exist in this universe. In this I have succeeded., Yelimane Fall
Yelimane Fall
agbogho mmuo mask, unrecorded Onitsha artist
unrecorded Onitsha artist
agbogho mmuo mask, early-mid 1900s
mmuo mask, unrecorded Onitsha artist
unrecorded Onitsha artist
mmuo mask, early-mid 1900s
pair of beaded gauntlets (gloves), unrecorded Dakelh (Carrier) artist
unrecorded Dakelh (Carrier) artist
pair of beaded moccasins, unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) or Sioux artist
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) or Sioux artist
beaded bag with elk design, unrecorded Flathead artist
unrecorded Flathead artist
dispatch case, unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
dispatch case, late 1800s–early 1900s
spirit figure, unrecorded Igbo artist
unrecorded Igbo artist
spirit figure, circa 1950
nyoga (women's ceremonial headdress), unrecorded Ndebele artist
unrecorded Ndebele artist
wearing blanket, unrecorded Ndebele artist
unrecorded Ndebele artist
wearing blanket, 1960–1982
standing female figure, unrecorded Guro artist
unrecorded Guro artist
standing female figure, late 1800s–1982
agere Ifa (divination cup), unrecorded Yoruba artist
unrecorded Yoruba artist
agere Ifa (divination cup), late 1800s–1982
Eshu figure with shell attachments, unrecorded Oyo artist
unrecorded Oyo artist
betrothal necklace, unrecorded Maasai artist
unrecorded Maasai artist
betrothal necklace, early-mid 1900s
pipe bag, unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) artist
unrecorded Hinono’eino (Arapaho) artist
pipe bag, late 1800s–1975
parfleche, unrecorded Plains artist
unrecorded Plains artist
parfleche, late 1800s–1980
Amadou Bamba calming the lion in the desert, Mor Gueye
Mor Gueye
Bless All Those Who Walk Here, Chris Pappan
Chris Pappan
reverse glass painting depicting students with writing boards, Mor Gueye
Mor Gueye
Medicine Man with Horse, unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
Chief on Horse, unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
Dead Union Soldiers, unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
unrecorded Ka’igwu (Kiowa) artist
Dead Union Soldiers, 1890s–1901
wedding necklace, unrecorded Maasai artist
unrecorded Maasai artist
wedding necklace, early-mid 1900s
food cover, unrecorded Nubian artist
unrecorded Nubian artist
food cover, mid-late 1900s
small tray, unrecorded Acoma artist
unrecorded Acoma artist
small tray, late 1800s–1975
beaded matchbox ornament, unrecorded Zulu artist
unrecorded Zulu artist
mano and metate, unrecorded Valley Zapotec artist
unrecorded Valley Zapotec artist
Honoring Modern Unidentified .3, Gina Adams
Gina Adams
Honoring Modern Unidentified .4, Gina Adams
Gina Adams
Honoring Modern Unidentified .5, Gina Adams
Gina Adams
Honoring Modern Unidentified .9, Gina Adams
Gina Adams

Events

March 11, 2011
Talk
Gwyneira Isaac on Object 2.0: New Paradigms in the Interpretation of Ethnographic Collections
4:00–6:30PM
309 Auditorium
February 4, 2012
Activity
Beads and Baubles
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
February 5, 2012
Activity
Beads and Baubles
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
February 11, 2012
Activity
Beads and Baubles
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
February 12, 2012
Activity
Beads and Baubles
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
February 18, 2012
Activity
Beads and Baubles
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
February 19, 2012
Activity
Beads and Baubles
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
February 25, 2012
Activity
Beads and Baubles
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
February 26, 2012
Activity
Beads and Baubles
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
November 8, 2012
Talk
Northwest Totem
10:00–11:00AM
Gallery 404
December 1, 2012
Activity
African Masquerade
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 2, 2012
Activity
African Masquerade
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 8, 2012
Activity
African Masquerade
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 9, 2012
Activity
African Masquerade
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 15, 2012
Activity
African Masquerade
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 16, 2012
Activity
African Masquerade
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 22, 2012
Activity
African Masquerade
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 22, 2012
Activity
African Masquerade
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 23, 2012
Activity
African Masquerade
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 29, 2012
Activity
African Masquerade
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 30, 2012
Activity
African Masquerade
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
June 1, 2013
Activity
Totem Tales
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
June 2, 2013
Activity
Totem Tales
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
June 8, 2013
Activity
Totem Tales
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
June 9, 2013
Activity
Totem Tales
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
June 14, 2013
Talk
Traditions in Transformation
12:00–1:00PM
Gallery 404
June 15, 2013
Activity
Totem Tales
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
June 22, 2013
Activity
Totem Tales
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
June 23, 2013
Activity
Totem Tales
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
June 29, 2013
Activity
Totem Tales
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
June 29, 2013
Activity
Reverse Glass Painting
10:30–11:30AM
Gallery 317 Central Court, Gallery 404, Gallery 405
June 30, 2013
Activity
Totem Tales
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
September 7, 2013
Activity
African Beading
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
September 8, 2013
Activity
African Beading
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
September 14, 2013
Activity
African Beading
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
September 15, 2013
Activity
African Beading
12:00–4:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, Gallery 404, 1301 Mississippi St
September 21, 2013
Activity
African Beading
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
September 22, 2013
Activity
African Beading
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
September 28, 2013
Activity
African Beading
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
September 29, 2013
Activity
African Beading
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
October 24, 2013
Talk
Roots and Journeys: Encountering Global Arts and Cultures
10:00–11:00AM
Spencer Museum of Art, Gallery 404
November 9, 2013
Activity
Native American Beadwork
10:30–11:30AM
3C1 lobby/hallway, Gallery 404
December 7, 2013
Activity
Native American Travel Bag
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 8, 2013
Activity
Native American Travel Bag
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 14, 2013
Activity
Native American Travel Bag
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 15, 2013
Activity
Native American Travel Bag
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 21, 2013
Activity
Native American Travel Bag
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 22, 2013
Activity
Native American Travel Bag
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 27, 2013
Activity
Native American Travel Bag
1:00–3:00PM
Gallery 404
December 28, 2013
Activity
Native American Travel Bag
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
December 29, 2013
Activity
Native American Travel Bag
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
February 7, 2014
Workshop
University in the Art Museum for Faculty
9:15–10:45AM
Reception Room
April 24, 2014
Talk
Native American Art
10:00–11:00AM
Gallery 404
April 25, 2014
Talk
Arabic Script in Sub-Saharan Africa
12:00–1:00PM
Gallery 404
October 4, 2014
Activity
African Masquerade
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
October 5, 2014
Activity
African Masquerade
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
October 11, 2014
Activity
African Masquerade
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
October 12, 2014
Activity
African Masquerade
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
October 18, 2014
Activity
African Masquerade
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
October 19, 2014
Activity
African Masquerade
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
October 25, 2014
Activity
African Masquerade
10:00AM–4:00PM
Gallery 404
October 26, 2014
Activity
African Masquerade
12:00–4:00PM
Gallery 404
February 28, 2015
Activity
Reverse Glass Painting
10:30–11:30AM
307 Reception Room, Gallery 404, Gallery 405

Resources

Documents

Media Release
Media Coverage