Fri 4/10 @ 6:30-7:30PM

This weekend, the Akron Art Museum opens an important new exhibition called Ken Monkman: History is Painted by the Victors. Monkman, a sixty-year-old Canadian Cree First Nations painter, is international known for his distinctive style and content. He’s had exhibitions all over the world featuring paintings that mimic classical landscape painting but with striking content that visually comments on the history of oppression through the eyes of a First Nations (Native) person. He’s known for his two-spirit alter-ego Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, whom he uses to turn standard history on its head. His work is complex and controversial.

The show formally opens to the public on Saturday April 11. But on Friday April 10, the museum is hosting two events to introduce the show. The first, taking place from 6:30-7:30 takes place a few blocks from the museum at the Akron-Summit County Library Main Branch Auditorium

There Kent Monkman will present a free artist talk to explain some of the intention and content of his work including Miss Chief Eagle Testickle. He’ll share projected images from the exhibition, and talk about his creative process. The evening will be introduced by Dr. LaDonna BlueEye of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; if there’s time, there’ll be audience questions afterwards. While it’s free registration is required due to limited seating; go here.

That’s followed by a special exhibition preview at the museum – free for members, $20 for non-members.

Following the talk, guests are invited to continue the evening at the Museum for a special exhibition preview. Admission to the preview is free for members and $20 for nonmembers. Activities include using a typewriter or art supplies to write a postcard to Miss Chief; adding to an interactive online poetry project created by the Wik Poetry Center at Kent State University; and  a film in the lobby of Monkman’s studio showing the artist and his team at work. There’s be free light appetizers, a cash bar and music by Minneapolis DJ Justis Brokenrope, who is indigenous and whose label documents North Americans Indigenous musicians. Register here.

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