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...2001 Conference ...Call for Papers ...Board Nominations ...Scholarships ...from the President ...Noteworthy |
Newsletter
Volume XIII, No. 3 April 2001 Thinking Outside the Classroom: Contemporary Dialogues on Native Art Scholarship in Museums Educating others on the history, meaning and contextual significance of Native arts ensures the future of our disciplines and creates a more productive environment for cultural exchange. Often, those of us who work in museums simultaneously adopt the roles of faculty, curator, historian, art critic and museum educator in our efforts to convey our research to the public. Previous NAASA sessions on Native art scholarship have focused on the merits and shortcomings of published resources. Rather, this panel will explore how Native art scholarship is pursued outside the setting of a university classroom. Current methods of museum outreach, docent training, visiting artist programs and museum studies will be examined. How can museums interpret Native American art and culture for a wide range of constituents, including children, families, college students, docents and researchers? What tools are available to museum professionals who wish to be inclusive of contemporary Native Perspectives? This session will address not only new media such as computer interactives and video, but will embrace the concept of oral transmissions and experiential learning (such as docent-led tours, artist demonstrations, hands-on activities and museum professional training practices) as valid agents of Native arts interpretation. Panelists, including community scholars, Native museum professionals and educators, will discuss how their experiences inform the practice of interpreting Native arts to a broad audience. Session Organizers and Discussants: Nancy Marie Mithlo and Jane Sinclair Send abstracts for this session by May 15th directly to: Jane Sinclair |