THE ART OF THE GAMES
BY ANN FLOOR

From the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum














 

Butterfly basket, San Juan Southern Paiute, Grace Lehi, 1980s

 














 

Engraved Scarab, Epimenes, about 500 B.C.


 


















 

Statue of a Victorious Youth,
artist unknown, 300-100 B.C.

 

 


Attic Red-Figure Kylix, attributed to Carpenter Painter, 515-510 B.C.

 

When the world comes to Salt Lake City in February 2002, international and local visitors alike will make their way to the U, the host of a number of unique exhibitions that are part of the Cultural Olympiad. A festival celebrating artists’ accomplishments, the Cultural Olympiad will include more than 60 performances, 10 major exhibitions, and 50 community programs. (For specific information on U of U exhibit dates, hours, and costs, refer to the calendar)

Utah Museum of Natural History
Of particular interest in the lineup is Utah’s First Nations: Peoples of the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau, opening Jan. 18 and continuing through Sept. 29, 2002, in the Utah Museum of Natural History’s Dumke Gallery. The idea for the exhibit came from the museum’s Indian Advisory Committee, organized more than 15 years ago, and marks a remarkable collaboration among Utah’s tribes and the museum. (details below)

The exhibit will include artifacts from the Northern Ute, Northwestern Shoshoni,
Confederated Tribes of Goshute, Skull Valley Band of Goshute, Navajo, Southern Paiute, and White Mesa Ute, providing a unique opportunity for visitors to learn about the indigenous peoples of this region.

Guest curator Nola Lodge, a member of the Oneida Tribe of the Iroquois Confederation tribe, and exhibit developer Becky Menlove asked each tribe to identify a defining moment—a turning point—in its history and to tell that story through the exhibit.

“The Northwestern Shoshoni are going to focus on the lifestyle of their people after the Bear River massacre,” says Lodge. “The Navajos want to focus on family and clan, and how important it is to their survival. And the Utes want to tell about the importance of the horse to their culture,” she adds.

Lodge and Menlove traveled to each reservation on several different occasions to see what kinds of artifacts were available. “They are willing to loan us their family heirlooms,” says Lodge. “This will be the first time some of this has ever been on public display.”

Lodge laments the fact that so often the American—and international—public has a stereotypical image of what an American Indian is. She says it grows out of the romantic Plains Indian image of the mounted horseman with headdress found so often in books and movies. “There is no understanding that there is no one American Indian, ” says Lodge. “We are all unique groups with a unique cultural history, material culture, and experience. And our experiences differ from place to place.” Lodge hopes this exhibit will help to dissolve this stereotype.

 

Northwestern Shoshoni doll,
Lucy Honevah, 1910

 
















 

 

 

Attic Black-Figure Nicosthenic| Amphora, attributed to Painter N, about 520 B.C.



Tree of life rug, Navajo, Mae Bow, 1985









Goshute burden basket, maker unknown,early 1900s



Black-Figure Volute Krater, attributed to the Leagros Group, 510-500 B.C.