Perpich News
Minneapolis Institute of Art Field Trip
November 30, 2023
On November 28th, students in Visual Arts, Media Arts, and Art History went on a field trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) to enjoy the “In Our Hands: Native Photographers 1890-Now” and the “Lyrical Art of Jim Denomie” exhibitions. Students expressed excitement about the diverse range of work included in the photography exhibition such as digital photographs embellished with hand-beading, photographs woven together to create multiple images, playful dioramas, sculptural artworks, and imagery of performance art.
The group also enjoyed the work of prolific local indigenous artist, Jim Denomie, whose paintings and sculptures filled three galleries. The work is lively, colorful, and explores satirical themes.
“These were fantastic exhibitions that show the stories, legacy, and thriving contributions of indigenous artists. It was a privilege to participate in this field trip that included more than half the Perpich Arts High School community, dreamed up and organized by our beloved Art History Instructor, Craig Farmer,” said Kathryn D’Elia, Visual Arts Instructor and Studio Arts Chair.
“The combination of the two exhibitions was very impactful for the students,” said Farmer.
“In Our Hands: Native Photography, 1890 to Now”, from the Mia website: Enter into the vivid worlds of Native photography, as framed by generations of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and Native American photographers themselves. Presenting over 150 photographs of, by, and for Indigenous people, “In Our Hands” welcomes all to see through the lens held by Native photographers. Organized by a council of primarily Native artists, scholars, and knowledge sharers, in partnership with Mia curators, this sweeping exhibition traces the intersecting histories of photography and diverse Indigenous cultures from the Rio Grande to the Arctic Circle. Beautiful, complex, and surprising, these artworks celebrate the legacy of groundbreaking photographers and their influence on the medium today. The exhibition runs October 22, 2023 – January 14, 2024.
“The Lyrical Artwork of Jim Denomie”, from the Mia website: This exhibition surveys the artist’s singular vision and signature style over the second half of the artist’s career, from 2007 to 2022. Jim Denomie (Ojibwe, Lac Courte Oreilles Band, 1955–2022) drew inspiration from lived experiences, pop culture, Anishinaabe traditions, and American histories to tell compelling narratives that depict his experiences of being Native in America. Despite the emotional weight of his subject matter, the artist’s dry wit opened space for necessary conversations about the legacies of colonization and the nature of humanity. The exhibition examines Denomie’s creative process, tracing his ability to transform inspiration into monumental artworks. The exhibition runs July 8, 2023 – March 24, 2024.
The Mia is an arts museum located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Home to more than 90,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history, Mia is one of the largest art museums in the United States. Its permanent collection spans about 20,000 years and represents the world’s diverse cultures across six continents. The museum has seven curatorial areas: Arts of Africa & the Americas; Contemporary Art; Decorative Arts, Textiles & Sculpture; Asian Art; Paintings; Photography and New Media; and Prints and Drawings. Mia is also one of the largest arts educators in Minnesota. More than a half-million people visit the museum each year, and a hundred thousand more are reached through the museum’s Art Adventure program for elementary schoolchildren. The museum has a free general admission policy, as well as public programs, classes for children and adults, and interactive media programs.
Photos from the Minneapolis Institute of Art Field Trip on Tuesday, November 28, 2023