Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe
at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
National Mall through January 1, 2027
Truman Lowe (January 19, 1944-March 30, 2019) was a Native American sculptor from the Ho-Chunk Nation, which is now headquartered in Black Falls, Wisconsin. In 1832, the US. forced the tribe to sign a treaty to give up their land. Today, tribal elders pass along their heritage to the younger generations of 7,752 citizens. Truman Lowe carried on these traditions as an artist and art educator.
Lowe worked within the Minimalist aesthetic, a modern art movement which rejected nature and personal interests, to create pure abstraction. He also works with simplified, abstract forms, but unlike other minimalist artists, Lowe used natural materials, predominately willow branches, stripped bare as if they could break at the slightest movement. The exhibit showcased his developed affinity for water, and humans relationship to it. The lighting used in this retrospective uses spotlights to emphasize the individuality of delicate, skeletal, shadow-y forms in a darkened gallery. This environment express a quality of the divine, the holy, and singularity at what remains of a decimated culture.
Waterfall’99, 1999
Soft willow saplings evoke water flowing along the geometric order over a grid which symbolizes archaeological digs developed to find and preserve artifacts of Native American culture. This form indicates a reference to European colonists dividing parcels of land for the settlers into square grids.
Wana (Cascade), 2002B
Large brushed-aluminum panels illuminates the majesty of the Columbia River, Nch’i-Wana, or “the Big River.”
Untitled (Canoe Form), ca. 2010
Charcoal on paper
Soft, vine charcoal creates a geometric, patterned, phallic image of an iconic symbol of Native American culture, the canoe.
Wach Nee (Canoe Form), 1996, reworked 1999
Pine wood, twine, willow branches, leather, iron screws
A large-scale canoe with a delicate, skeletal aesthetic creates a form which seems to float on unseen water. The view from underneath, casts a living shadow.
Mnemonic
Preserving the medicinal knowledge of Native Americans, Lowe re-created a ‘prescription stick’ used flat, rectangular pieces of wood, framed by willow sticks to indicate plants and medicinal recipes.
Mask, 1985-90
Leather, pine willow sticks, bark, and brushed, powdered pigment
He plays with the expressive qualities of a traditional artifacts of the mask, but said “I add my own notions.”
at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
National Mall through January 1, 2027
Truman Lowe (January 19, 1944-March 30, 2019) was a Native American sculptor from the Ho-Chunk Nation, which is now headquartered in Black Falls, Wisconsin. In 1832, the US. forced the tribe to sign a treaty to give up their land. Today, tribal elders pass along their heritage to the younger generations of 7,752 citizens. Truman Lowe carried on these traditions as an artist and art educator.
Lowe worked within the Minimalist aesthetic, a modern art movement which rejected nature and personal interests, to create pure abstraction. He also works with simplified, abstract forms, but unlike other minimalist artists, Lowe used natural materials, predominately willow branches, stripped bare as if they could break at the slightest movement. The exhibit showcased his developed affinity for water, and humans relationship to it. The lighting used in this retrospective uses spotlights to emphasize the individuality of delicate, skeletal, shadow-y forms in a darkened gallery. This environment express a quality of the divine, the holy, and singularity at what remains of a decimated culture.
Waterfall’99, 1999
Soft willow saplings evoke water flowing along the geometric order over a grid which symbolizes archaeological digs developed to find and preserve artifacts of Native American culture. This form indicates a reference to European colonists dividing parcels of land for the settlers into square grids.
Wana (Cascade), 2002B
Large brushed-aluminum panels illuminates the majesty of the Columbia River, Nch’i-Wana, or “the Big River.”
Untitled (Canoe Form), ca. 2010
Charcoal on paper
Soft, vine charcoal creates a geometric, patterned, phallic image of an iconic symbol of Native American culture, the canoe.
Wach Nee (Canoe Form), 1996, reworked 1999
Pine wood, twine, willow branches, leather, iron screws
A large-scale canoe with a delicate, skeletal aesthetic creates a form which seems to float on unseen water. The view from underneath, casts a living shadow.
Mnemonic
Preserving the medicinal knowledge of Native Americans, Lowe re-created a ‘prescription stick’ used flat, rectangular pieces of wood, framed by willow sticks to indicate plants and medicinal recipes.
Mask, 1985-90
Leather, pine willow sticks, bark, and brushed, powdered pigment
He plays with the expressive qualities of a traditional artifacts of the mask, but said “I add my own notions.”
