The exhibition Radical Stitch, a collection of contemporary Indigenous beadwork, is filled with ironic takes on the medium. For example, the Kiowa artist Teri Greeves, from Sante Fe, N.M., contributes, a figure in a feather warbonnet with a speech bubble that reads “ART” all carefully stitched together in fine beadwork. The cheeky image – in part a reference to Roy Lichenstein’s 1962 pop painting of the word art – asks whether Indigenous crafts can be integrated into Western notions of fine art.
Skawennati, Intergalactic Empowerment Wampum Belt , 2017. Assorted Czech glass beads, leather, artificial sinew, nail polish.Aside from Krauchi’s gender spin, these pieces are mainly a testament to the remarkable technical talent required to keep traditional beadwork artistically alive. But much of the work in this show then uses that technique to thematic effect.
The Montreal-based Algonquin artist is one of several prominent contemporary Canadian artists known for using beads in conceptual pieces. She is also represented by a collapsible tobacco barrel made of long, pale ceramic beads. Ruth Cuthand is best known for her beaded images of the deadly viruses and bacteria that Europeans introduced to the continent.