magical, native, and natural "other"

Native Americans are still the magical other, yet most people understand that blackface is fucked up and offensive. It's strange how understanding is only extended to certain people(s). I guess it is about access to power and voice. Native Americans aren't given much time or attention. This type of stuff makes me sad. More of this set of photos, by Three Nails Photography, here. Also, I posted some related images of ill-advised school art projects a while ago, here.

I feel like I need to balance out this post a bit.

Edgar Heap of Birds - Beyond the Chief (sign, installed in Urbana, IL) March, 2009

Jimmie Durham - Pocahontas' Underwear (mixed media) 1985

Brian Jungen - Beer Cooler (cooler, beer cans) 2002

mca and feminist theory

i learned the following things about giving tours to students at the MCA during my training for the "This will have been: Art, Love, & Politics in the 80's". it is important to note that about 1/2 of our tour/training consisted of a discussion around how this show reflects feminist issues - i.e., that gender is not in-born and the "male gaze." also, each gallery is 'themed' - one of the themes is Gender Trouble - after Judith Butler's book.

- bringing your tour group to or past naked women is ok
- bringing your tour group to or past a naked man is not allowed
- bringing your tour group past an image of a lynch black man must be done with caution
- these directions seem to be dictated from top-down  ("a long standing point of contention [at the MCA]")

Jimmie Durham - Self Portrait (mixed media) 1986 [not ok]

Robert Mapplethorpe - Man in Polyester Suit (gelatin silver print) c. 1980 [not ok]

Robert Colescott - At the Bathers Pool (Venus is still Venus) (acrylic on canvas) 1985 [ok]

Martin Kippenberger - Put your freedom in the corner, save it for a rainy day (wood, ceramic, Robert Gober wallpaper) 1990 [touchy]

*Subsequently, half of this exhibition will not be accessible on artist-lead tours.