Native American Art at the Mingei International Museum of World Folk Art in San Diego

Written by Alan Weismueller Monday, 16 May 2011 00:52

San Diego, CA - "In Their Own Words: Classic and Contemporary Native American Art" on view until September 5th at the Mingei International Museum of World Folk Art in San Diego presents classic art from North America’s indigenous artisans shown alongside paintings by four native-Californian contemporary artists. When thinking of classic art, the casual museumgoer usually thinks of Grecian statues or Roman architecture, but classic art, defined by its age, function, design and shape, is also found throughout North America. Art history focuses attention on the classic art of the early European and Asian worlds; rarely is classic art from central and southern Africa or North and South America grouped into the same category.

Classic art from these continents is often defined as traditional or craft although it was created during the same time periods with the same growth of developmental styles and techniques as the classic art of Europe. Design and function become a part of life and simultaneously reflect life, from Grecian urns and Acoma pottery to Roman tapestries and Pomo basketry. The classic art of the indigenous peoples of North America is as diverse as the nations that created it.

Beginning in the late nineteenth century, Native American classic art became popular with tourists. Soon new design elements were created for the tourist trade such as floral imagery that was beaded into belts, bags, and shoes. Styles and designs were changed to meet the demands of this new market composed of settlers, trading companies, and collectors. In addition, during this period many native nations had been removed from their homelands and farms and moved to new, inhospitable reservations.  Selling wares and art often became a means of survival. Today, Native American art encompasses every style, medium and message, and is as distinct and personal as the individual artist. The four California artists represented in this exhibition share two things: they predominantly work on canvas with oils or acrylics and they all project a personal message in their work.


Billy Soza Warsoldier, (Cahuilla/Apache) and a member of Soboba, has been an artist in residence at The Arts Students League in New York City, has attended The Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe and has been exhibited in numerous international venues. Soza Warsoldier creates series of paintings that reflect periods or events in his life. His wolf series was born of a personal encounter with a wild grey wolf, and his prison series reflects the injustices Native American peoples have faced over the course of centuries.

Robert L. Freeman, (Luiseño) and member of Rincon Reservation, has won more than150 national Indian awards for paintings of Indian and western subjects. Freeman brings an eye for the real and surreal to his work. Many paintings depict actual people or scenes he has encountered, while other works are created from deep within the artist.

Catherine Nelson-Rodriguez, (Luiseño/Wailaki/Choctaw), is a self-taught artist. Her work has been exhibited locally and in New York. Nelson-Rodriguez paints her personal pain, frustration, joy and healing. Starkly exposed and vulnerable, she allows us to be guests on the journey of her life.

L. Frank (Tongva/Ajachmem) is an activist, author and artist working in many media – paint, basket weaving, sculpture and photography. L. Frank’s paintings reflect her dedication to the preservation of California’s native cultures. A book of her witty Acorn Soup cartoons highlights Coyote in all his guises. She is also co-author with Kim Hogeland of "First Families: Photographic History of California Indians". L. Frank was named a “Local Hero” by San Francisco’s KQED-TV/Examiner newspaper Native American Heritage Month series, has served as artist-in-residence at the Headland Center for the Arts in Sausalito, California and has been honored by the American Association of University Women, the James Irvine Foundation and the Fund for Folk Culture.

Established in 1978, Mingei International Museum is a non-profit public institution dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of art of the people (mingei) from all cultures of the world. The Museum's collection now comprises more than 19,600 objects of folk art, craft and design from 141 countries. In August 1996, Mingei International opened a new, 41,000-square-foot facility on the Plaza de Panama in Balboa Park. The Museum is located in the historic House of Charm, on the central square with the San Diego Museum of Art and the Timken Museum of Art. Two whimsical sculptures by acclaimed artist Niki de Saint Phalle sit near the front entry. The Museum has six exhibition galleries, a multimedia education center, a theater, The Collectors' Gallery/Museum Store and an Art Reference Library. Its Collections Access and Research Center coordinates registration, storage, exhibition design and preparation areas with the adjacent reference library of books, films, videotapes, slides and photographs. In October 2001, Mingei International purchased a 21,000 square-foot building on Grand Avenue in Downtown Escondido. A former JC Penney department store, the Escondido Museum is a stunning example of adaptive reuse. The Museum opened to the public on December 5, 2003. The Museum has two exhibition galleries, a multi-media education center, The Collectors' Gallery/Museum Store and a marketing center for Mingei International's publications and videos. A dramatic addition was a Dale Chihuly glass chandelier installed over the Grand Staircase in July 2005. In its 30-year history, Mingei International has organized and presented 140 major exhibitions, some of which continued to reach a nationwide audience as they traveled to other museums. Supplemented by a 9,000-volume Art Reference Library of books, films, videotapes, DVDs and photographs, these exhibitions are also enriched by public events including illustrated lectures, films, designer craftsmen demonstrations, workshops, music, theater and dance. In 1986, the American Association of Museums awarded Mingei International full accreditation. In April 2000, the Museum received re-accreditation in acknowledgment of its continuing excellence, achievement and leadership. From its inception, Mingei International has worked with governments, other museums, universities, designer craftsmen and collectors throughout the world in developing its collection, exhibitions and events. Visit the museum's website at ... http://www.mingei.org

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