Conversation XVII: Photographic Memory

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

Conversation XVII: Photographic Memory
Conversation XVII: Photographic Memory
Cassandra Mesick, curator
December 21, 2013–May 18, 2014
Gallery 405, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

Using works on paper from the Spencer’s collection, including pieces that have never been on display, this exhibition explores the intersections between emerging photographic traditions and evolving understandings of Native American culture in the late 19th century. Photographic Memory invites viewers to use hindsight and cultural sensitivity to question traditional notions of ethnicity, identity, and authenticity, especially as they relate to indigenous communities in post-colonial contexts. Highlights include documentary photographs of American Indian life in the northern Great Plains and a selection of commercial studio portraits that circulated in the last decades of the 19th century.

To broaden the conversation, a selection of newly acquired works by contemporary artists will be shown alongside historic photographs. Among the contemporary selections is a series titled An Indian from India by photographer Annu Palakunnathu Matthew; the artist pairs reprinted 19th-century portraits of Native Americans with self-portraits in which she poses in similar scenarios, using modern digital technologies to recreate historic photographic processes to uncanny effect. Photographic Memory encourages us to consider how moments in American history, saved for posterity on film, continue to reverberate today.

Exhibition images

Works of art

Standing Rock, David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
Standing Rock, circa 1885
portrait of Louie, Sitting Bull's son, David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
portrait of Red Fish, David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
portrait of Red Fish, circa 1885
portrait of Rain in the Face, David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
portrait of Gall, David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
portrait of Gall, circa 1885
portrait of Curley, David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
portrait of Curley, circa 1885
portrait of Sitting Bull, David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
portrait of Chief Joseph, David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
portrait of Bob Brave Bear, David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
portrait of Standing Holy, David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
portrait of John Grass, David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
David Francis Barry (1854–1934)
portrait of a man, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of a man, 1910–1925
portrait of a man, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of a man, 1910–1925
portrait of a man, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of a man, 1910–1925
portrait of a young girl, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of a man and woman, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
family portrait, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
family portrait, 1910–1925
portrait of a young girl, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of a man and woman, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of Mrs. Kable, Miss Tasco, and girl, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of a young woman, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of a very young girl, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of Plain Bear, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of Plain Bear, 1910–1925
portrait of Miss Lone Lodge and Miss Mountain, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of Miss Mountain, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of two women, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of two women, 1910–1925
portrait of a woman, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of a woman, 1910–1925
portrait of a man and woman, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of two very young girls, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of a man and woman, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of a very young girl and boy, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of a woman, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of a woman, 1910–1925
portrait of Medicine Woman, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
portrait of a very young boy, Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
Fred R. Shiffert (1881–1976)
photograph of Iron Hawk, Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
photograph of Comes Again, Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
photograph of Little Soldier, Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
photograph of Little Warrior, Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
photograph of Black Elk, Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
photograph of Pemmican, Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
photograph of the reunion of the survivors of Little Big Horn, Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
photograph of High Eagle, Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
photograph of John Sitting Bull, Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
photograph of Dewey Beard, Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
Bill Groethe (1923–2020)
Daughter/Daughter, Annu Palakunnathu Matthew (born 1964)
Annu Palakunnathu Matthew (born 1964)
Daughter/Daughter, 2008–2009
Whiteman/Indian, Annu Palakunnathu Matthew (born 1964)
Annu Palakunnathu Matthew (born 1964)
Whiteman/Indian, 2008–2009
Battle of Fort Henry #1, Daniel D. Teoli Jr. (born 1954)
Daniel D. Teoli Jr. (born 1954)
Battle of Fort Henry #2, Daniel D. Teoli Jr. (born 1954)
Daniel D. Teoli Jr. (born 1954)
Sitting Bull, Andy Warhol (1928–1987)
Andy Warhol (1928–1987)
Sitting Bull, 1986

Events

February 2, 2014
Talk
Photographic Memory with Cassandra Mesick
1:00–2:00PM

Resources

Documents

Media Coverage
Media Coverage
Media Release