ONM collaborates with the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art on Native American Photography Exhibit

Press Release

Pawhuska, OK (7/22/2016) –The Osage Nation Museum (ONM) is pleased to announce that they will be participating in a Native American Photography Exhibit with the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.

Historical photographs by noted 20th-century photographer Edward Curtis and new works by Navajo photographer Will Wilson will be shown together when the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art opens the exhibit, PHOTO/SYNTHESIS, in the spring of 2017. The exhibit is supported by a $40,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant recently awarded to the University of Oklahoma.

Hallie Winter, Osage Nation Museum Curator is collaborating with Heather Ahtone, the James T. Bialac Associate Curator of Native American and Non-Western Art from the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art to include members of the Osage Nation in the upcoming exhibit.

Wilson’s photographs of contemporary descendants from the Curtis portraits will shed light on the historic role and misuse of photography in the depiction of Native Americans. Wilson will visit Oklahoma this summer to photograph the living descendants and tribal members of those originally photographed by Curtis, and these photos will be featured in the exhibition. In contrast to the approach used by Curtis, Wilson will work closely with tribal members while photographing them.

Wilson and Ahtone will visit the ONM on July 22nd, 2016 to photograph descendants of Wah-she-wah-hah (John “Wash” Bigheart), Allottee #782 who was photographed by Curtis in 1930. Bigheart (1/1/1865-2/9/1939), was a full blood Osage. He was the son of Wah-she-nah-hah and Ne-kah-ah-se. Bigheart married two sisters, Me-grah-tah, who died before allotment and Hlu-ah-to-me (Grace), Allottee #783. He had seven children. Bigheart is known to be one of the last Osage men who wore his hair cut in the roach style.

Winter has been working with various departments in the Osage Nation in order to contact all living descendants of John “Wash” Bigheart. Coincidentally, Winter is a great-great-great granddaughter of John Bigheart. “It is an honor to be a part of this project. I’m not only thrilled to be involved on a personal-level, but I’m honored to represent Osage culture today, a major goal of the ONM.”

If you are a descendant of John Bigheart, Allottee #782 please contact Ms. Winter at 918-287-5441 to learn about the project and how you can be involved.

About the Osage Nation Museum

The premiere destination to experience Osage history, art, and culture.

Visit the Osage Nation Museum (ONM) in historic Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Our continuously changing exhibits convey the story of the Osage people throughout history and celebrate Osage culture today. Highlights include an extensive photograph collection, historical artifacts, and traditional and contemporary art. Founded in 1938, the ONM is the oldest tribally owned museum in the United States.

Admission and parking is free.

Contact Information

Phone: 918-287-5441

Fax: 918-287-5227

Email: @email

Website: www.osagenation-nsn.gov/museum

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OsageNationMuseum/

Location

819 Grandview Avenue

Pawhuska, OK 74056

Image Credit:

Edward S. Curtis (U.S., 1868-1952) “Big Heart – Osage”, 1930, Photogravure, 12 7/8 x 9 1/2”, Image courtesy: Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, The University of Oklahoma, Norman; Purchased with funds from the T. W. Eason Fund, 1974