The Block Museum of Art in Evanston, Illinois, is set to host a major exhibition titled "Woven Being: Art for Zhegagoynak/Chicagoland" from January 25 to July 13, 2025. The exhibition will feature more than 80 artworks by 33 artists and aims to present Indigenous perspectives on the art of Chicagoland.
"Woven Being" is part of the Terra Foundation's citywide Art Design Chicago initiative, which highlights Chicago's artistic heritage and creative communities. Four artists with ties to the region have collaborated on this project: Andrea Carlson (Grand Portage Ojibwe/European descent), Kelly Church (Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Tribe of Pottawatomi/Ottawa), Nora Moore Lloyd (Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe), and Jason Wesaw (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi). They have curated a selection that explores how Indigenous creative practices continue to evolve in Chicagoland.
Chicagoland has long been a cultural hub for various Indigenous nations including the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, Odawa, Menominee, Miami, Ho-Chunk, Sac, Fox, Kickapoo and Illinois nations. Despite their historical presence in the area, Indigenous contributions are often absent from mainstream narratives about Chicago's art history. This exhibition seeks to counter that exclusion by centering on Indigenous voices.
“The Block was interested in exploring the question: ‘How does one’s understanding of Chicago change when seen through Indigenous perspectives?’” said Jordan Poorman Cocker (Kiowa), guest co-curator of the exhibition and curator at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. “This exhibition helps shift views about the place Chicagoans call home by revealing Indigenous stories that have been erased or omitted from mainstream narratives.”
Andrea Carlson noted that “‘Woven Being’ has tangents, unexpected artists who aren't even Native, and diverse materiality and forms because artists cast a wide net when it comes to where we draw inspiration.” Kathleen Bickford Berzock emphasized that “these perspectives are central to understanding Chicago’s specific cultural landscape.”
The collaboration among artists such as Josef Albers and Rick Bartow alongside primarily Indigenous artists creates what co-curator Janet Dees describes as "a gift: art for Zhegagoynak." The exhibition also features a Community Room designed for conversation and learning.
An accompanying publication will be released by University of Washington Press in Spring 2025. A public opening celebration is scheduled for February 1st with activities including an open gallery tour and keynote panel discussion featuring collaborating artists.
“Woven Being” receives support from several organizations including the Terra Foundation for American Art and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
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