INDIANAPOLIS--A milestone and a new exhibit will be celebrated this weekend at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis.
Eiteljorg is celebrating its 30th anniversary and opening a new featured exhibition. It’s called “A Sense of Beauty: Showcasing Power and Beauty in Native Art.” It opens Saturday March 9.
“This is gonna be a lot of fun. This is beautiful art of various types created by some Native American artists including some beautiful glass sculpture, pottery, paintings, installations, and weavings,” said Bryan Corbin, Public Relations Manager at the Eiteljorg.
He said they are arranged in very interesting ways.
“For example, we have weavings suspended from the ceiling in what we’re calling a whirlwind of weavings. There’s also a river of pottery and a waterfall of baskets. It’s just really interesting to see both the individual artworks and how they are arranged in the gallery. It really shows the creativity of the Native American artists from many different regions and styles,” Corbin said.
Corbin said most of the artwork in this exhibit is contemporary.
“Some of it is considered customary art or what some might consider traditional art. Regardless, it is all very beautiful. It represents a number of styles, eras, and different tribal nations. It really gives you a sense of the breadth, variety, and creativity of Native American Art,” Corbin said.
Tickets for adults are $15. For people age 65 and over, they are $12. Kids age 5-17 get in for $8. Children 4 and under get in free.
The 30th Anniversary
“Over the past 30 years, the Eiteljorg has evolved into a nationally renowned institution and pillar of Indianapolis’ cultural community,” museum President and CEO John Vanausdall said. “Our founder’s love for Western and Native American art was at the heart of a new museum that opened its doors to the public in 1989. We wonder if Harrison Eiteljorg could have imagined how much the collection and the museum itself would grow in the subsequent years.”
Corbin echoed Vanausdall’s sentiment.
“During that time, our museum has more than doubled in size and the size of our collections have really quintupled in that size in terms of artwork and collections now,” Corbin said.
Coming Up
On Friday March 29, there will be a 30th anniversary party for museum members.
On Saturday March 30, the Eiteljorg opens another exhibition: “Bringing Friends Together: Contemporary Hopi Carvings from the Eagle, Perelman and Rader Collections.”
(PHOTO: Eiteljorg Museum)
