The Long Night of the Floating Shell

Last Friday AICHO introduced its new exhibit, presented in the Robert Powless Cultural Center. The Long Night of the Floating Shell was named for the shell that manifested to guide the Anishinaabe in their journey to Minnesota as well as the significance of shells in Maya culture. This exhibit, open through July 19th, evokes a sense of journey, exploring the turbulent and triumphant experiences of contemporary Indigenous artists Zamara Cuyún and Jonathan Thunder. Thunder is from the Red Lake Nation in Minnesota and Cuyún is from the Twin Cities with roots in the Maya Highlands of Guatemala, but both were able to find common ground in their Indigenous perspectives.
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Photos by Ivy Vainio.

​Cuyún's work was an empowering display, an interweaving of cultural stories from the Maya Highlands with detailed and motivating artistry that tackles modern social issues with aplomb. Cuyún has made it a priority in her art to work against some of the failings she has seen in modern education.

"It's time for us to tell our story," she said during the casual walkabout through the exhibition. Cuyún elaborated that the stories of Indigenous people worldwide have been repeatedly suppressed and rewritten throughout history and with her artwork, she aims to confront that suppression. Her art takes this mission seriously, a solemn and mature body of work that truly comes to life through the dynamic and stunning use of color throughout. This color and sense of movement is drawn from Cuyún's own personal journey, the reality of which she conveys through her work. 

The work of Jonathan Thunder is also deeply personal. "I like to call them vignettes," said Thunder, stepping back and examining the canvas behind him. As he explained, his paintings are snippets of a larger story, one that has occurred around him throughout his life so far. These brief windows into a broader tapestry are painted and presented in Thunder's own vibrant style, colorful and unique in its simultaneous complexity and humor. Like Cuyún, Thunder's art is very personal, but Thunder feels that the unity of their perspectives has widened both, allowing them their own vignettes of one another's experiences. These new insights have inspired Thunder to experiment with new artistic styles and mediums, expanding his repertoire and displaying his concept sketches alongside finished work. 

Both Zamara Cuyún and Jonathan Thunder are intriguing and talented artists. We have immense gratitude to them for sharing with us their unique perspectives, experiences, and art.

Listen to an interview with Jonathan Thunder about the exhibit HERE.

Keep an eye out for the closing artist talk on June 22nd, 2019!