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There are art forms that have been passed down for years and held up through history. From corn husk weaving to bronzed sculptures, they are representations of tribal art, both from the past and the present.
The Nez Perce: Old Symbols-New Visions exhibit currently at the Third Street Gallery is a display of contemporary American Indian art, showcasing art that has been passed down for years through generations of Nez Perce.
Kathleen Burns, arts director for the city of Moscow, said that this exhibit is the first of its kind for the Third Street Gallery.
“I saw the Nez Perce: Old Symbols-New Visions exhibit at the Lewis-Clark History Center last year and really liked it,” Burns said. “I then spoke with Anne McCormack and asked her if they could bring the exhibit up to Moscow.”
The Nez Perce: Old Symbols-New Visions exhibit, which originated last year in Lewiston, is now open at the Third Street Gallery in Moscow and features classic tribal artwork from artists around the area.
“People should come see this exhibit for a number of reasons,” Burns said. “There is so much there, including corn husk weaving that is just fascinating. It’s almost a dead art, so just seeing that is educational. There are also bronze sculptures and glass pieces. There are large murals and a couple children’s prints. It’s very helpful and educational for the community.”
McCormack said that when Burns approached her with the idea of having the exhibit displayed in Moscow, she was interested but had her concerns about its audience.
“We had 75 people at our opening last Friday night and I was thrilled to have such a good audience,” McCormack said. “They had very positive feedback and everything was very appreciated by all.”
She said that watching people at the opening was interesting because each piece draws in different people, and everyone had their own focus on a particular piece.
Jenny Williams, whose traditional corn husk weaving works are featured at the exhibit, said that anyone with an interest in contemporary American Indian art will enjoy this show.
“There are a lot of different mediums represented, and they’ll really enjoy seeing them all,” she said.
Williams said she only wishes there would be more of an explanation and artist biographies with each piece, that way people would know more about it.
“There is a lot of meaning behind each piece, and without talking to each artist directly, it may be hard to understand that meaning,” Williams said, “I wish that there was an explanation with each piece that would tell more about the artists background and what the piece means.”
Williams’ pieces on display range from baskets and bags to smaller decorative pieces, like necklaces and earrings.
“I work a lot with geometric designs and there are some with floral designs,” she said, “The Nez Perce are noted for their different designs, so I try to work a lot with that.”
While this is Williams’ first time having work on display at the exhibit, as she wasn’t a part of the display at the Lewis-Clark History Center last year, she does have work on display at the Smithsonian as a part of their American Indian section.
“I fell in love with the different weaving works from the first time I saw them. From the patterns, to the designs, to the history, I love it all. I was interested in the design and the work that goes into each piece, and I was just taken aback by the beauty of it,” Williams said.
Williams said it was hard for her to find a teacher when she first wanted to learn because it’s kind of a dying art.
She first taught herself how to weave, and then was taught under two master weavers.
“It’s a passion for me,” Williams said.
John Wilson, whose two linocut pieces are on display at the exhibit, said that people should come see the different pieces of art so they can see the culture.
“Art is culture,” he said. “There’s a lot of contemporary work in the show that people are going to like. There’s some good work, and it’s all from a wide spectrum of time.”
Williams said what she likes most about the Old Symbols-New Visions exhibit is that the artists are all from around the area.
“They’re all local artists, except for Doug Hyde who’s from Arizona. It’s nice to have everyone’s work together and on display like that,” Williams said.
McCormack agreed and said the exhibit is an excellent example of traditional folk art of the tribe.
“These are art forms that have held up over history. For people who don’t know anything about tribal art or tribal imagery, this is a great educational display for them to see,” McCormack said.
The Nez Perce: Old Symbols-New Visions exhibit is currently open at the Third Street Gallery in downtown Moscow and will continue to be on display until
March 14.
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