91探花

91探花鈥檚 Kennedy Museum of Art (KMA) blooms into spring with three new exhibitions, all opening on Friday, March 25. The first exhibition, "Representation of Women in KMA Collections," will highlight works that investigate the representation of women and the female form in art; the second exhibition, 鈥淣ight Skies: Navajo Textiles Depicting Sandpaintings,鈥� will highlight select Navajo textiles depicting sandpaintings; and the third exhibition, 鈥淩ecent Acquisitions,鈥� will explore works new to the museum鈥檚 collection. 

鈥楻epresentation of Women in KMA Collections鈥�

This exhibition is a student-produced exhibition developed by KMA鈥檚 education department interns. The project began in Spring 2021 as an online initiative owing to the museum being closed due to the pandemic. The online version was hosted on KMA鈥檚 Museum Experiences Blog space . The main theme of 鈥�Representation of Women in KMA Collections鈥� emerged as student interns Madeline Kramer and Tristen Luken combed through thousands of images in KMA鈥檚 collections. Both were drawn to a range of works representing women and the female form.

The work to convert the original online project into an installation began in Fall 2021 with the museum education department鈥檚 graduate assistants Marissa Stewart and Kelly Hanning joining Luken and other undergraduate interns, Grace Kriger, Carrie Summerford, Emily Van Meter and Addy O鈥橰ourke, in the challenge of designing a three-dimensional visitor experience.

鈥淭ransitioning an online exhibition to an in-person experience was an exciting challenge to approach,鈥� Luken said. 鈥淲hen putting together an online exhibition we wanted to include extra information that may not have been included in a traditional exhibition, so the wording had to be changed and adapted for an in-person viewing. We also had to consider the design of the show 鈥� [like] color, balance, and space ... [with the online exhibition] it was just the order of the pieces on the screen. I am excited to be able to walk through this show and be immersed in the creations.鈥�

According to Luken, the hands-on experience and knowledge she gained from the project was extraordinary.

鈥淲orking with my peers on this show was amazing,鈥� Luken added. 鈥淗aving the input and help of my team members makes this show so unique and strong. With the combined knowledge and eyes, we were able to work out any kinks and view things from different perspectives to hopefully make 鈥�Representation of Women in KMA Collections鈥� a show everyone can enjoy.鈥�

鈥�Night Skies: Navajo Textiles Depicting Sandpaintings鈥�

Twelve pieces from the museum鈥檚 foundational Edwin L. and Ruth E. Kennedy Southwest Native American Collection (SWNA) make up 鈥淣ight Skies: Navajo Textiles Depicting Sandpaintings.鈥� The weavings part of the exhibition replicate imagery similar to that of sandpaintings created during traditional ceremonial practices of the Navajo (Din茅) people. Called 鈥渃hants,鈥� 鈥渟ings,鈥� or 鈥渨ays,鈥� ceremonies are held for a variety of reasons, including restoration of harmony and balance.

According to KMA鈥檚 Curator of Education Sally Delgado, it is important to note that the sandpainting replica weavings are not ceremonial objects and carry neither the meaning nor the healing power that ceremonial drypaintings hold.

鈥淭he selected weavings reflect aspects of the Din茅 view of the universe and feature sky imagery such as constellations, the sun and moon, the Milky Way, and color references to times of day and the four cardinal directions,鈥� Delgado said. 鈥淲e are opening 鈥楴ight Skies: Navajo Textiles Depicting Sandpaintings鈥� as we celebrate the spring equinox and invite visitors to spend time with these textiles in our galleries and to explore the outdoor spaces at The Ridges.鈥�

The museum鈥檚 SWNA collection includes nearly 700 textiles and more than 2,400 jewelry items, including a series of over 100 weavings containing sandpainting imagery commissioned from Navajo weavers by Edwin Kennedy almost four decades ago. The majority of the sandpainting weavings were made by Red Rock area weavers Despah Nez and her two daughters, Anna Mae Tanner and Alberta Thomas, whose work is showcased in 鈥淣ight Skies: Navajo Textiles Depicting Sandpaintings.鈥� A weaving by Gladys Manuelito (niece of the famed weaver and ceremonial practitioner Hosteen Klah), and a version of 鈥淭he Night Sky鈥� by Two Grey Hills weaver Mary Ann Foster will also be on view.

鈥淩ecent Acquisitions鈥�

鈥淩ecent Acquisitions鈥� will highlight new works accessioned into the museum. Select works will be on view, including photography by Christopher Payne and retired OHIO professor Laura Larson; prints by Burhan Dogan莽ay; a sculpture by Anne Culbert; and numerous ceramic works donated by Professor Emeritus Joe Bova and the International Academy of Ceramics.

鈥淭he artwork featured in Recent Acquisitions was donated by artists and collectors and accepted by KMA鈥檚 collection committee,鈥� KMA鈥檚 Registrar Lisa Quinn said. 鈥淭he new accessions will serve KMA鈥檚 mission to enhance the intellectual and cultural life of 91探花 and the region through exhibitions, collection-based research, and diverse formal and informal learning opportunities. The variety of mediums including prints, photographs and ceramics allow those activities in multiple discipline areas.鈥�

 Museum hours are weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays. More information about visiting KMA can be found here.