Wendy Red Star's 'A Scratch on Earth' Exhibition at Columbus Museum of Art Reclaims Indigenous Narratives
Wendy Red Star's exhibition, 'A Scratch on Earth,' is currently on display at the Columbus Museum of Art, showcasing more than 40 pieces from her 15-year artistic journey. As a member of the Crow Tribe, Red Star delves into modern Indigenous experiences through diverse forms of art. The exhibition's title refers to the Apsáalooke term 'Annúkaxua,' which pertains to a 19th-century mandate that forced the Crow people to relinquish 1.6 million acres for railroad development following the 1880 Peace Delegation. Red Star reinterprets historical photographs by Charles Milton Bell, adding insights about Crow leaders. Her works, including 'Four Seasons' (2006) and 'Apsáalooke Feminist' (2016), challenge Native American stereotypes. The exhibition is open until September 3, 2023.
Key facts
- Wendy Red Star is an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe in Montana born in 1981
- The exhibition 'A Scratch on Earth' is at Columbus Museum of Art until 3 September 2023
- The title translates the Apsáalooke word 'Annúkaxua,' referencing 19th-century U.S. policy
- The 1880 Peace Delegation required Crow people to give up 1.6 million acres for railroad construction
- Red Star digitally annotates 10 historic photographs by Charles Milton Bell with biographical details
- Her 'Four Seasons' (2006) series uses inflatable animals to critique stereotypes of Native Americans
- 'Apsáalooke Feminist' (2016) features Red Star and her daughter in traditional elk tooth dresses
- The exhibition includes over 40 works spanning 15 years of Red Star's career
Entities
Artists
- Wendy Red Star
- Charles Milton Bell
- Edward S. Curtis
Institutions
- Columbus Museum of Art
- Crow Tribe
- Bureau of American Ethnology
- Honest Tea
- The Coca-Cola Company
- Milwaukee Art Museum
- National History Museum
- The Tang
- The Newark Museum
- The Newark Museum of Art
Locations
- Montana
- United States
- Washington, D.C.