American Heritage Gallery, Epcot Center
Walt Disney World Resorts, Orlando, FL
July 27th, 2018
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| A sea of patchwork at the opening of a new exhibit at Epcot highlighting Native Art in North America |
On this day when Mars is closer to the Earth
than it’s been in a decade and a half, since July 2003, a beautiful
dedication and opening ceremony was held for the new American Indian art
exhibit in the American Heritage Gallery of Epcot Center’s World Showcase. Amid
a global display of cultures, “Creating Tradition: Innovation and Change
in American Indian Art” stands as a marker, reminding us all, residents and
visitors alike, of the history, contemporaneity and future that Indigenous art,
heritage, traditions, knowledge hold on this continent and around the
world. With elegance, grace, dignity and
courage, the exhibit speaks to the enduring role of tradition and how the
cultural geography of our shared past continues to inform the future of
cultural, artistic, linguistic and intellectual knowledge in Indigenous
communities and the lands they influence both within and beyond ancestral homelands, locally and globally.
[Footage courtesy Walt Disney World News]
On the occasion of the recent exhibition opening, the main
floor of the American Heritage Gallery was transformed into a celestial sphere, gathering community, sharing the sound of human voices and rhythmic
percussion. It was a brief moment where together we created a space to celebrate the existence of life.
This collaboration between institutions provides Epcot visitors with the opportunity to engage with various forms of authentic art and cultural artifacts within the World Showcase. The exhibit itself was conceptualized during a multiyear effort by Disney to connect with American Indian communities, including Native communities of South Florida. The outcome is a model for long term collaboration in knowledge sharing; juxtaposing ancient with modern, traditional with experimental; resulting in the co-creation of an incredible visitor experience infusing authentic art and history into the fabric of Disney magic.
This collaboration between institutions provides Epcot visitors with the opportunity to engage with various forms of authentic art and cultural artifacts within the World Showcase. The exhibit itself was conceptualized during a multiyear effort by Disney to connect with American Indian communities, including Native communities of South Florida. The outcome is a model for long term collaboration in knowledge sharing; juxtaposing ancient with modern, traditional with experimental; resulting in the co-creation of an incredible visitor experience infusing authentic art and history into the fabric of Disney magic.
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| [Detail of Brian Zepeda's work] |
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| [Brian Zepeda and his parents] |
“It means a lot to me to have my work on display for a few
reasons:
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| [Bag by Brian's grandmother: Juanita Osceola] |
b. My late Great Grandma’s patchwork was chosen to be in the same display case. She had a profound impact on my art and my pursuit of expression through art.
c. Epcot is a major platform to reach people from around the world in a positive way.”
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[Pedro Zepeda and a few members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida dancing and singing the Catfish Dance]Video clip of opening ceremonyCourtesy Gordon Oliver Wareham |
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| [South Florida is well represented in the new Native Art Exhibit that opened last week at Epcot] Photo courtesy Gordon Oliver Wareham |
In a time when many communities, native and non-native
alike, are working hard to gain, reclaim and share an understanding of our
human interrelationship with earth’s natural cycles, the presence of this
exhibit in Epcot’s World Showcase helps to bridge the gap that too often
occurs in the policy and practice of knowledge sharing when it comes to the
history, current role and future of American Indian presence in the United
States.
We are all connected. What happens in one community region habitat or ecosystem affects us all. The display of both historical and contemporary art in this world showcase exhibit literally provides a global platform for Indigenous Peoples of the Americas to advance their work, support their values and promote their messaging. Whatever the viewpoint from which one views the facts of history, the continued endurance of Indigenous People on this continent is undeniable. Despite everything that has happened on these lands, Native People are still here and shall remain.
GLIMPSES FROM THE OPENING:
We are all connected. What happens in one community region habitat or ecosystem affects us all. The display of both historical and contemporary art in this world showcase exhibit literally provides a global platform for Indigenous Peoples of the Americas to advance their work, support their values and promote their messaging. Whatever the viewpoint from which one views the facts of history, the continued endurance of Indigenous People on this continent is undeniable. Despite everything that has happened on these lands, Native People are still here and shall remain.
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| 78 of the 562 federally recognized tribal communities in the US are represented in Epcot's new "Creating Tradition" exhibit. |
GLIMPSES FROM THE OPENING:
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| Artist Brian Zepeda addresses attendees at the VIP reception |
Just a little clip from last week's exhibit opening... #SadieBuck pic.twitter.com/14tegwKenZ— Tara Chadwick (@wabigun) August 5, 2018
[A recording of Sadie Buck was one of several beautiful voices filling the hall before the opening]
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| [Photo of Native Music interpretive panel, courtesy Tom Corless, Walt Disney World News] |
Sincere gratitude and congratulations to all the artists, curators, visionaries and everyone who created this exhibit as well as this very special private opening ceremony. Looking forward to seeing the possibility of a larger, public celebration in the future!
(All pics and text (c) Tara A. Chadwick, unless otherwise noted.)
