[Ais-list] The Witness Blanket and Carey Newman at the Frank Museum -- Otterbein University

[Moriarty, Megan]

THE WITNESS BLANKET & CAREY NEWMAN

The Frank Museum of Art, Otterbein University



The Witness Blanket and Colour Works exhibitions bring contemporary indigenous artists’ responses to Canada’s history and legacy of Indian Residential Schools. The installations are an unprecedented opportunity for Americans to learn from our neighbors to the north and to reflect on their creative responses to Canada’s Truth & Reconciliation Commission. In June 2021, Interior Secretary, Deb Haaland announced the formation of a Truth and Healing Commission in the United States, so these exhibitions are especially important NOW.



The Frank Museum is showing The Witness Blanket, made by indigenous Canadian artist Carey Newman | Hayalthkin'geme. This show marks the first time the exhibition has traveled outside of Canada. Immediately after its engagement at Otterbein, it will return to Canada because of touring demands. Newman created the 6’8” x 39’ cedar sculpture, which weaves together over 880 objects reclaimed from Canada’s Indian Residential Schools, survivors, and the churches and governmental institutions that enacted the residential schools’ mission to eliminate indigenous culture, language, and family ties. The sculpture’s presence in Central Ohio alongside the Newark Earthworks and other indigenous land-based architecture slated for UNESCO World Heritage review is significant.

(Note: Because of customs restrictions, conservation needs, and exhibition demands in Canada, additional versions of the WB were made. The Frank Museum will host one of the additional versions.)



Colour Works, in the Fisher Gallery, is curated by Carey Newman and Dr. Andrea Walsh, also focuses on Canada’s Indian Residential Schools, which Indigenous children were forced to attend between the 1870s and 1990s. The exhibition displays orange t-shirts inspired by the experience of survivor Phyllis Webstad, whose own orange shirt was taken on her first day of residential school. These shirts have become national symbols of remembrance and honor for the children, survivors, and intergenerational survivors. Every Sept. 30 on Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Canadians wear orange t-shirts with unique designs by contemporary Indigenous artists, some of which are featured in this exhibition. Large-format prints of paintings made by children at the Alberni Indian Residential School also are part of the installation.





Carey Newman is scheduled to visit Otterbein/Central Ohio the week of October 24. He will arrive Tuesday, October 25 and depart Friday, October 28. (This may change if there are indigenous ceremonies or visits to the earthworks that require more time in the schedule.)

  *   Carey will share a public talk on The Witness Blanket & the Colour Works exhibitions on Wednesday October 26 between 6:30p - 9p at Otterbein (Final times TBA).

  *   Carey also has offered to meet with groups

     *    in the Witness Blanket exhibition
     *   to screen Heart and Hands, a 1-hour documentary on the making of a youth project that made a traditional cedar Totem
     *   for a ecological talk on Totem 2.0, which discusses a new technique that uses 2nd growth cedar to make traditional totem (and his innovative splicing technique that makes a full-size totem without using old growth cedar).
     *   A good short talk about a number of his ideas/perspectives/choices here<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3WQWn9e5XQ__;!!KGKeukY!1SvAYXJOxBuOnyvnzjzgV4KXngnU8OUMCdAzBNMS3-fotR7gQKxZG-q4RMCBEetHVLJsWTVzmca5ckI4GKO8iAViUj8$>.  What does "land back" actually mean? Resetting relationship with land.
     *   All My Relations<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUtH18d0WbI__;!!KGKeukY!1SvAYXJOxBuOnyvnzjzgV4KXngnU8OUMCdAzBNMS3-fotR7gQKxZG-q4RMCBEetHVLJsWTVzmca5ckI4GKO8gTKqryA$> talk

  *   Carey is especially interested in meeting with Indian Residential School survivors and/or family members.
  *   He would like to visit the sacred indigenous earthworks in Ohio, and he is open to joining in other events.

If you'd like to connect with Carey during his visit, you can email Janice Glowski at jglowski at otterbein.edu directly.



Janice Glowski, PhD

Director, Museum & Galleries

Art Historian

1 S. Grove Street

Westerville, OH 43081

614.823.1185

only.otterbein.edu<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/only.otterbein.edu__;!!KGKeukY!1SvAYXJOxBuOnyvnzjzgV4KXngnU8OUMCdAzBNMS3-fotR7gQKxZG-q4RMCBEetHVLJsWTVzmca5ckI4GKO8w_sYGQQ$>



[cid:cce99238-007d-48b4-a51f-f3f88103fba8]







[The Ohio State University]
Michelle Wibbelsman
Associate Professor
Department of Spanish and Portuguese
281 Hagerty Hall, 1775 College Road, Columbus, OH 43210-1430
614-292-7787 Office
wibbelsman.1 at osu.edu<mailto:wibbelsman.1 at osu.edu> http://sppo.osu.edu<https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/http/*sppo.osu.edu__;Lw!!KGKeukY!3AYVuQVKapPx1t8V3e5hNXOePVbbN1FjuVPmlKzbORKgM2Yf7a6gXs1xWp_LP7Rzmg_Pkw6HD7wpCzKw98uycXF_JK9afp069Ro$>



Kawsay Ukhunchay Andean and Amazonian Indigenous Art and Cultural Artifacts Research Collection

https://u.osu.edu/aaac/



​K'acha Willaykuna Andean and Amazonian Indigenous Art and Humanities Collaboration

https://​globalartsandhumanities.osu.edu/cross-disciplinary-research-focus-areas/immobility/kacha-willaykuna<https://globalartsandhumanities.osu.edu/cross-disciplinary-research-focus-areas/immobility/kacha-willaykuna>

Buckeyes consider the environment before printing.
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