Wendy Red Star

Wendy Red Star is Apsáalooke (Crow) and a multimedia artist focused on Indigenous perspectives of the received Native American narrative. Vintage imagery and her own photos combine to create a trenchant commentary on current U.S. culture. In “Apsáalooke: Children of the Large-Beaked Bird,” Red Star annotates portraits of Native Americans taken during the late 1800s-early 1900s when Crow leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with U.S. officials. Her commentary provides needed and appreciated context. MMoCA's current hours are noon-6 p.m., Thursday-Sunday; a reception takes place Friday, Dec. 9. from 5-8 p.m., with a performance by the Wisconsin Dells Singers.

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courtesy Madison Museum of Contemporary Art

Wendy Red Star, "Déaxitchish/Pretty Eagle," 2014. Original photograph of Déaxitchish by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Ethnology, from the1880 Crow Peace Delegation, in Washington D.C.

media release: On November 12, Wendy Red Star: Apsáalooke: Children of the Large-Beaked Bird opens at MMoCA. Wendy Red Star is a multimedia artist and a member of the Apsáalooke (Crow) tribe who creates art to offer a narrative of Native people in America that focuses on an indigenous perspective rather than the typical stories told by non-Native scholars. An avid researcher, Red Star uses historic imagery and material culture as direct references for her own photographs and installations.

At the center of Children of the Large-Beaked Bird are portraits taken during the 1873, 1880, and early 1900s Crow Delegations that brought Crow leaders to Washington D.C. to meet with U.S. officials to negotiate territory and reservation boundaries. Red Star adds details and annotations to these images that highlight the leaders’ humanity and importance. Children of the Large-Beaked Bird provides an opportunity for children and adults to look at the history and identity of a people as told through their point of view. As the artist notes: “It is critical to preserve and pass along culture, heritage, and shared values while also providing future generations with a sense of identity, solidarity, and empowerment.”

Please join us for an Exhibition Celebration on Friday, December 9 from 5-8 PM. This free event will include a virtual introduction from Wendy Red Star and a performance by the Wisconsin Dells Singers. A cash bar will be available in the Lobby and in the Museum’s third floor lounge.

On Feb. 25, join us for an afternoon of storytelling with Andi Cloud in the Museum Lobby. This special program is in association with Wendy Red Star: Apsáalooke: Children of the Large-Beaked Bird, a traveling exhibition currently on view in the State Street Gallery and The Shop. 2 pm, no RSVP needed.

Wendy Red Star: Apsáalooke: Children of the Large-Beaked Bird, curated by Laura Thompson, Ed. D., was organized by Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA). It will be on view at MMoCA through February 26, 2023.