Kayla Tackett and artist Tom Farris joined E.J. Iannelli in the KPBX studio and by phone to chat about the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture's "Savages and Princesses: The Persistence of Native American Stereotypes."
"Savages and Princesses" is a new exhibition at the MAC that aims to challenge assumptions and received ideas about Native Americans. It opens today (Thursday, Nov. 10) in connection with Native American Heritage Month.
Farris, who resides in Norman, Oklahoma, is a member of the Otoe-Missouria tribe and the Cherokee Nation. Three of this works are being shown in this exhibition: “REZor,” “...but I can’t prove it” and “The Missing Link.”
Whereas Farris' works tend to use humor to resonate with viewers, other works on display, such as Micah Wesley's "Redskin: Our Scalps, Your Honor," are more direct and unsettling.
Tackett is the director of exhibitions and collections at the MAC and explained how the museum originally came by this exhibition. She and Farris both talked about how it might encourage visitors to reflect on their own assumptions about Native American culture.
“Savages and Princesses: The Persistence of Native American Stereotypes” runs through March 19, 2023 at the MAC. More information is available at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture website.
