Myth, Home, Self Portraiture

The Newark Museum have two shows that have a similar purpose. One is Wendy Red Star's "A Scratch On The Earth" and Kambui Olujimi's "Skywriters & Constellations" both emphasize mythology and voicing their opinions about how their culture embodies themselves and finding ways to express their narratives.

Wendy Red Star began to dive deep on with looking up old photographs about her people to get some further research about her history. Through her research for her series"1880 Crow Peace Delegation"and "Diplomats of The Crow Nation, 1873 Crow Delegation". In these series of photos; it is altered by having Red Star's handwriting notations in red ink. She writes various facts and observations about the people in the Delegation. The series was also provided by what her ancestors have taught that passed through generations. Some of her statements provide an insight about how their importance mattered to the delegation. Other statements explains the garments that each person wore. It emphasizes that each garment has a special meaning behind it. In the photographs, it provides people information about why the delegation is so important, especially to Red Star. There were many occurrences where both the government and various native tribes have tried to discussion about the oppression that was placed in the Crow nation and finding an an agreement, implement that both sides are seen equal. Another piece that caught my eye was a series of photographs "My Home Is Where my Tipi Sits", the photos are familiar elements that are a part of Crow Reservation Life". The photos shows real experiences that the Crow nation are living. She uses the quote by Chief Sits in the Middle of the Land "Where my four based tipi poles touch the ground, will be my land"; stating that the photos the realities that every other Crow native lives and she is displaying it for others to see it as well and understand how there is a big difference of how they people but in this case, where she lives is her people's land that was claimed back from the United States.

Wendy Red Star, Portrait of Perits-Har-Std (Old Crow) with His Wife, Ish-Ip-Chi-Wak-Pa-I-chis (Good or Pretty Medicine Pipe), 
from the series Diplomats of the Crow Nation, 1873 Crow Delegation, 2017

Wendy Red Star, Group Portrait of Three Men, Kam -Ne-Butse (Blackfoot), Eche-Has-Ka (Long Horse), and Te-Shu-Nzt (White Calf)
from the series Diplomats of the Crow Nation, 1873 Crow Delegation, 2017

Wendy Red Star, My Home is Where My Tipi Sits (Signs), 2011

    

Wendy Red Star, My Home is Where My Tipi Sits (Sweat Lodges), 2011

Kambui Olujimi creates a work of art that is more multimedia based. Skywriter Constellation is a sort of remaking of a novella, an original narrative that Olujimi had created but this time time making it live-action with having different characters and the video being layered by different clips of city life, everyday activities, and pattern-like stills. It caters around personal experiences living in the city and creating that environment though the people he encounters. Outside of the screening, there is a series of 12 lithographs, each one is a month and has the characters involved. The story is based on mythologies thought Ancient Greece and Rome. It is easily described as more astronomy based, considering that the screening as used in a planetarium and they backdrop was using footage of space. In the beginning of the video, the main character Iku was living in sort of shelter in the urban city. The video showed him clearing out a room from a different person who left or had passed; where he found this sort of crystal and ate it where it took him to some sort of dimension. After that, the narrative went to various separate ways. It introduced other characters where they had their own scenarios and shown if it was resolved or not.  Throughout the narrative, it still has Iku involved but its not chronological, so it does come off as unexpected.

Kambui Olujimi, Constellations, October, Diver Constellation, 2013

Kambui Olujimi, Constellations, 2013

Both works do express something universal; they want people to see it, making them curious about what is happening or why they did it. It is almost as you are being part that experience. Based on my project, I want to people to understand the message through the experience. I am trying to lean something that people will gravitate towards or at least find a common ground that people relate though experience and emotion through imagery.