Power of Place — Strength of Being - The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin

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Kwangoma Kyanzasu, Kwasyokimgu Kathiiani, Mbavani Kiatineni,
Mbitii Nzaui Makueni, and Nzamboni Kitui. The final location for
creation was Niagara Falls, bringing the project full-circle. At each
location, I allocated various periods from ten days to thirty days.
While on location, I created at least one “new” piece of work inspired
by the surroundings using glass beads and local materials such as
papyrus, bark, Egyptian cottons, English wools and locally made beads
of amber, ceramic, bone, gold, sterling silver, and turquoise.
The works have been inspired by historic sites around the world, sites
that have been the sources of centuries of creative stimulation. They have
been created from the sub-self conscious; allowing the sites to speak
to me experientially, through the senses at a sub-conscious level, while
in part being a result of my conscious reflection on my own beadwork
traditions. The works were made while directly aligned with different
global places of power, learnt from the earth and from the natural
surroundings that resulted in the creation of new pieces developed
through human rhythm aligned with the rhythm of the universe.
This exhibition is based on a personal journey; providing a sense of
interconnection on both creative and personal levels. This exhibit
provides an analysis of works of art from diverse cultures and
demonstrates how interrelated conditions influence the development
and reception of thought, ideas, and concepts in the arts from an
artistic vision, providing a deeper understanding of Aboriginal cultures
in general.
One of the goals is to assist in changing perceptions of Aboriginal
traditional art forms and how they are presented. Bringing indigenous
Canadian traditions into direct conversation with a wide range of
world art traditions, not only other indigenous ones, but exploring
the universal quest for relationship to land and power through art.
The objects featured, have been chosen to illustrate and emphasize
the need for re-evaluation and re-contextualization of Aboriginal/
Indigenous arts within the framework of contemporary art on a
broader level. Since Canada and now other places are today inhabited
by people from all over the world we need to find these inter-
connections amongst our ancestral cultures and in particular, to see
how they relate to the indigenous cultures and arts of Canada itself.