Preface:

This course looked closely at the impacts of settler colonialism to uncover Pueblo and Navajo art’s enduring engagement in supporting health and wellbeing among its practitioners and home communities. The course content was aligned with an upcoming exhibition on the subject at the Barnes Foundation in Spring 2022. Study and discussion were oriented around the Albert Barnes’ collection of Historic Southwest Native American art and related collections in the Penn Museum and contemporary art made by many of today’s leading Native American artists. The course explored Navajo and Pueblo pottery, weaving, and handmade metal silver/turquoise/shell jewelry within its historical and contemporary socio-political contexts of its making and use. Students learned to look closely at art and materials, artistic practice, and histories within Native community contexts. Topics explored indigenous perspectives, practices, lifestyles, and values, anthropological perspectives, Native American resistance and reclamation, representation, and issues of American history and art sovereignty. Contemporary Native American artists and resources were highlighted and a regular part of the course instruction and content.