The 47th Annual Red Cloud Indian Art Show Opens!

posted June 10th, 2015 


Featured artists and guests take in the 47th Annual Red Cloud Indian Art Show at its opening June 6, 2015.


Smaller pieces, making for a distinct visual experience. New and long-time artists exploring new mediums. History and modern interpretation colliding on canvas. This year’s Red Cloud Indian Art Show continues to impress, surprise, and redefine, making it one of the best shows in the region to take in this summer.

Since 1969, the Red Cloud Indian Art Show has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors to The Heritage Center and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to view extraordinary works of art from seasoned Native American professionals and young artists just beginning their artistic careers. This year’s exhibition, which showcases around 160 submissions in categories from painting and photography to beadwork and quillwork, features the work of more than 50 Native artists each year.

 

The Heritage Center Director Jose Rivera visits with guests at the 47th Annual Red Cloud Indian Art Show opening on June 6, 2015.


“There is some very strong work this year. We have a number of young artists that are with us for the first time–and others who have shown for a few years–and are showing a lot of promise,” says Mary Maxon, curator at The Heritage Center. “It is nice to see how they are stepping forward and working into the mix with some of our great long-time contributors.”

Mary Maxon, long-time curator at The Heritage Center visits with South Dakota Arts Council Director Michael Pangburn to discuss this year’s exhibition layout. 


Many of those artists were in attendance at the June 6th opening. Guests wondered at Sicangu Lakota artist Evans Flammond’s new piece called, Spirit World. An acrylic on canvas piece that takes a step away from his usual ledger artwork and explores an original passion. Spirit World captured guests as they enthusiastically took notice to the change.

Sicangu Lakota artist Evans Flammond’s partner Holly Albers describes his work Spirit World at the 47th opening of the Red Cloud Indian Art Show on June 6, 2015. 


Another artist in attendance was last year’s winner of the Br. CM Simon, S.J. Award, Charles Her Many Horses. This year’s submission from Her Many Horses titled Stick Horse No. 1, was also a venture into a new medium for a young artist. A mixed media horse head sculpture on a beaded stick was a significant departure from his usual acrylics. Fortunately for an apprehensive Her Many Horses, the piece received a welcoming response.

Sicangu Lakota artist Charles Her Many Horses visits with Heritage Center Assistant Curator Ashley Pourier in the gallery at the 47th opening of the Red Cloud Indian Art Show on June 6, 2015


Perhaps the show’s legacy and growth was most notably felt in remarks by the event’s keynote speaker, Henry Red Cloud. As he spoke of his grandfather’s legacy he noted the pride the Show gives to Native artists in the community. Red Cloud recounted a memory of his mother winning an award for artwork she submitted years ago and, how as a child, he felt joy and pride in her accomplishment even then.

Flammond, Her Many Horses and many other artists will undoubtedly be celebrated in much the same way in the years to come. As The Red Cloud Indian Art Show honors its heritage, celebrating the continued innovation of its career artists, it is championing its newest artists in new and innovative ways. In doing so, the Heritage Center provides the opportunity for Native artists to further re-define, expand and share their craft. It is this type of commitment that keeps The Heritage Center - and its artists - at the forefront of Native art.

The Art Show is open six days a week and admission is completely free. For more details on the show visit their website or Facebook page.  


READ MORE!  

 Announcing the 2015 Red Cloud Indian Art Show Winners!

Read Red Cloud Country and see Don Montileaux's
thoughts on why he become a long-time contributor
to the Art Show for 46 years.

 

 Check out last years Artist Profile on Dwayne Wilcox. 

 


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