The Zuni

THE ZUNI - MAINTAINING AN ANCIENT CULTURE IN MODERN SOCIETY

April 13, 2004

For thousands of years, the Zuni people have lived on the same Southwestern lands. Like other cultures, they have absorbed some influences from those who -- quite literally -- crossed their paths. But they have also preserved their peaceful, agrarian culture and supplemented their original art forms with new ones, like silversmithing, which they learned from the Spanish in the sixteenth century.

This year, The Rockwell Museum of Western Art brings focus to the Zuni culture through a cluster of programs. A group of seven life-sized portraits of Zuni people by noted photographer Thorney Lieberman will be exhibited at The Rockwell Museum of Western Art from April 30th to September 6th. These were chosen from Lieberman's larger photo project, "The People," in which he turned his lens on the Zuni at the turn of the millennium. Lieberman will talk about this project at the exhibition opening on April 30th at 6pm. The event is open to Rockwell Museum members and the general public. To further enrich the focus on Zuni culture, the Museum will also present a Zuni cultural presentation by Bobby and Corraine Shack, and a student exhibition at the opening.

Best known for his architectural photography, Thorney Lieberman diverged from his traditional subject to create "The People," a pictorial documentation of Native Americans at the turn of the millennium. He presents his subjects in large scale to give viewers a very detailed and personal perspective. Each individual's image is comprised of as many as forty brightly colored contact prints of 8x10 inch film. Lieberman photographed each image at a 1:1 ratio - full-size. He then assembled these contact prints to produce the full-sized portraits.

The photos depict Zuni men, women and children in their traditional Native American dress. Bright and vibrant, they reveal the detail and craftsmanship in each traditional garment. Among his subjects is the Rockwell Museum's concurrently visiting artist, Bobby Shack.

When asked why he chose this project, so different from his others, Lieberman said, "America is fascinated by The People native to this land... However our unfortunate shared history is one of frequent abuse, of cultural distortion and exploitation." His purpose in creating these works is to "break some new ground by crafting a collaboration where there has been little or none."

Bobby and Corraine Shack will expand on what visitors can see through the photographs. In addition to being superb silversmiths, the Shacks are also important cultural leaders within the Zuni Nation. Having acted as both political and religious leaders, they work to preserve Zuni language and customs and to educate others in Zuni ways of life. During their two-week residency, Bobby and Corraine will engage more than 900 Odessa-Montour students with classes in Jewelry Making, Native American Cooking, Storytelling, Zuni Music and Dance and Design.

There will be a student exhibition in conjunction with the Shack's residency as well as Thorney Leiberman's residency at Elmira City Schools. The student exhibition will be on view in the museum's Education Gallery April 30th through May 23rd.

The Rockwell Museum puts equal emphasis on creating a stimulating and enjoyable experience and displaying art. Galleries and exhibits offer new ways to see and think about the West. The old and the new, placed side-by-side, inspire comparison and curiosity. Special programs make art and the many facets of American culture come alive for visitors. Gallery talks, musical events, evenings on the Terrace, clay workshops, and other events are, in themselves, memorable reasons to visit the Rockwell. The Rockwell Museum provides captivating ways for families with children to discover the West: through art packs, special cultural programs, and hands-on art activities.

The Rockwell Museum of Western Art is open to the public seven days a week, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm with extended hours May through October. The museum is located in the renovated 1893 former City Hall, on the corner of Denison Parkway and Cedar Street in Corning. Inside, this historic building now conveys the feel of the West. In addition to the exhibition galleries themselves, the museum provides a Trading Post gift shop with Western and Native American items including jewelry, pottery, weavings, books, reproductions, and kitchen items. In the adjacent Cantina, visitors can enjoy Western-style lunch, dinner and snacks. Members can enjoy discounts and many special privileges. Further information about the museum is available by calling 607-937-5386.