At long last. Some good news from America! Something worth sharing: WE ARE NATIVE WOMEN is An exhibition celebrating Native American women on the 400th anniversary of the death of Pocahontas.
For more information contact Jo: jo@rainmakerart.co.uk
tel. 0117 944 3101 mobile 07799 388 632.
RAINMAKER GALLERY, 123 Coldharbour Road, Bristol, BS6 7SN
www.rainmakerart.co.uk
2017 marks the 400th anniversary of the death of Pocahontas in Gravesend, Kent. She is probably the only Native American woman who most British people could name. The popular treatment of Pocahontas, most notoriously in the Disney films, has distorted the picture of her.
The myth of Pocahontas dominates our understanding and has eclipsed the numerous Native American women whose real lives are as worthy of our attention. This is the motivation for WE ARE NATIVE WOMEN , to release Pocahontas from the symbolic duty of standing for all Native American women. The exhibition challenges the cult of celebrity associated with figures like Pocahontas and asks why we insist on warping our understanding by viewing complex issues through a distorting prism.
“Dooming a person’s existence to that of a stereotype is worse than never having lived at all.” Shan Goshorn
The artworks in this exhibition depict women of all ages, strong, powerful, nurturing, caring, desirable, provocative, dangerous, real and supernatural. It highlights individual and communal struggles, concerns and life choices of women from several Native cultures across the continent.
“From a very young age, Chemehuevi women are taught that their innate strength as a woman and life giver is all-powerful, maybe sometimes even supernatural, and we are respected as equals in Chemehuevi society. We hold power in government and historically in battle. This unique perspectiveshows up throughout my art. It is always my intention to visualize this inherent Chemehuevi belief in the all-powerful, supernatural strength of women.” – Cara Romero
We Are Native Women is curated by Dr Stephanie Pratt, Cultural Ambassador for the Crow Creek Dakota Tribal Council and Joanne Prince, Director of Rainmaker Gallery.
Situated on the border of Redland and Westbury Park in North Bristol, Rainmaker Gallery is the UK showcase for the very best in contemporary Native North American Indian art. Founded in 1991 by Joanne Prince, to provide an authentic Native American voice in the
UK, Rainmaker Gallery promotes awareness, education and cultural exchange through artist talks, events, exhibitions and collaborations with Museums and academia.
I’m sad because it seems no one from the Virginia Native American Communities are involved, Historical Powhatan Tribes that have survived. Seems like just more stereotypical types that don’t have any relations to Virginia Powhatan Natives.
Kim thanks for your message
I don’t think Jo at Rainmaker art is pretending to cover all the communities. However may I suggest you contact Jo@rainmakerart.co.uk with your query. You’ll received a more informed answer than mine. Thanks. Lemn