Pre-Columbian & American Indian Art
Changing Perspectives: American Indian Art
Barbara Rothermel, Director, Daura Gallery, Lynchburg College
Truth, purpose, and beauty in non-Western art – art that does not originate from the Euro-American perspective, but which has developed from the social, spiritual, and political needs of diverse people across the world – is often misunderstood. This lecture focuses on Native American arts, and is supported by writings by Franz Boaz and Vine Deloria, Jr. There is really no such thing as "The American Indian" or "The Native American." The American Indian world is far more complex than this. To begin to understand this world, we must go beyond a simple identification process and grasp the worldviews that Native American art reflects.
Constructing the Navel of the World: Inka Architecture
Dr. Paula Winn, Adjunct Professor of Art History, Virginia Commonwealth University and John Tyler Community College
By 1500, the Inka Empire was one of the largest in the world. At the heart of this massive empire was the capital city of Cuzco. Nestled high in the Andes Mountains, Cuzco was not only a political center, but a sacred one as well. Everything from the royal compounds and religious structures to the military fortifications and public plazas were meticulously arranged. Even the location of the city itself was prophetically chosen according to Inka mythology. This lecture explores the Inka city of Cuzco through its surviving sculpture and its remarkable stone architecture.
Latin American Perspectives New
Marisa Day, Youth and Family Programs Educator, VMFA
From ancient to contemporary, discover the Latin American connection to artworks from VMFA’s collection Learn how these works were influenced by artists’ perceptions of Central and South America’s social, political, economic and cultural world and how these same perspective are relevant today
Mapping the Sacred World: Ceremonial Architecture of the Maya
Dr. Paula Winn, Adjunct Professor of Art History, Virginia Commonwealth University and John Tyler Community College
Examine the sacred environments created by the Maya. Like many Pre-Columbian societies, the Maya used pyramids, plazas and sculptures to replicate the cosmos within their city centers. While simultaneously weaving together history and mythology, these landscapes created a three-dimensional map of their universe. Focusing on the Classic Period site of Tikal, this lecture explores the ceremonial architecture of the Maya.
My VMFA: Pre-Columbian and Native American Art
Dr Lee Anne Hurt Chesterfield, Assistant Curator of Ancient American Art, VMFA
What locations are conjured when thinking of Ancient Art? Egypt, Greece, Rome? It’s easy to forget that across the Atlantic there was an equally vibrant tradition of artistic creation. In her overview of the department of Pre-Columbian and Native American Art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Dr. Hurt provides insight into these cultures while showing highlights of the collection. The future of the department is also discussed focusing on potential acquisitions, the planning for the reinstallation of the galleries, and future exhibitions.
Travels with George Caitlin
Jeffrey Allison, Paul Mellon Collection Educator and Statewide Programs Coordinator, VMFA
George Catlin recorded for posterity the appearances and customs of the Indian tribes of North America. Between 1830 and 1836, Catlin made five trips to the American West. From his visits to 58 tribes, he produced 485 paintings and collected over seven tons of artifacts. These he exhibited in the United States and Europe as Catlin's Indian Gallery. Throughout his life, Catlin struggled to keep the collection whole and pursued its acquisition by the newly created Smithsonian Institution. This lecture looks at Catlin's life from his travels through the American West to the end of his career when, facing bankruptcy, he traveled to South America and rekindled his interest in painting and the scientific recording of Native American life.