American Museum of Natural History Northwest Coast Hall New York City // NEW YORK CITY, Stati Uniti - la Northwest Coast Hall dell'American Museum of Natural History espone più di 1.000 tesori culturali provenienti da dieci nazioni indigene del Nord-ovest Pacifico. Sviluppata in collaborazione con le comunità native, la galleria rinnovata presenta 67 sculture monumentali alte da 3 a 17 metri, oltre ad altri importanti manufatti culturali. La mostra presenta la cultura materiale di Salish Coast, Gitxsan, Haida, Haíłzaqv, Kwakwaka'wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, Nuxalk, Łingít/Tlingit,
7996 x 5331 px | 67,7 x 45,1 cm | 26,7 x 17,8 inches | 300dpi
Data acquisizione:
11 dicembre 2024
Ubicazione:
American Museum of Natural History, New York City, New York, United States
Altre informazioni:
Photograph by David Coleman. The Northwest Coast Hall at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City represents a collaborative approach to presenting Indigenous cultural heritage. Originally opened in 1899 as the museum's first cultural hall, it underwent a comprehensive renovation and reopened in 2022 with reinterpreted exhibits developed in partnership with Indigenous communities from the Pacific Northwest. The hall is organized into a series of alcoves, each dedicated to the material culture of specific Native Nations: Coast Salish, Gitxsan, Haida, Haíłzaqv (Heiltsuk), Kwakwaka'wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, Nuxalk, Łingít (Tlingit), and Tsimshian. These exhibits feature more than 1, 000 meticulously restored cultural objects including ceremonial regalia, masks, bentwood boxes, carved house posts, woven baskets, and button blankets—all presented with interpretive materials developed by Indigenous consulting curators. Among the most striking elements are 67 monumental carvings that range from 3 to 17 feet tall. These impressive works were restored by museum conservators working under guidance from Native experts to ensure both physical preservation and cultural accuracy. The collection also includes newly created pieces commissioned specifically for the hall, representing the continuing vitality of these artistic traditions. Throughout the exhibition, digital media and storytelling components provide context from Indigenous perspectives, with content developed by Native scholars, artists, historians, and language experts. This approach represents a significant shift from traditional museum practices by centering Indigenous knowledge and interpretation of their own cultural heritage. The Northwest Coast Hall exemplifies the museum's commitment to collaborative curation and more inclusive approaches to presenting cultural collections developed through consultation with descendant communities.
