* REGISTER ONLINE here so the museum staff can plan to have plenty of refreshments *
Following basket maker Jilli Oyenque's popular workshop in May at the museum, comes our second lecture and demonstration in Native basket technology. This time we are honored to have Christopher J. Lewis (Zuni Pueblo), member of the Badger Clan and a child of the Corn Clan, a respected fiber artist and basket and textile scholar.
Visiting the Maxwell from Southwestern New Mexico, Christopher will give audiences a short presentation with a video to contextualize his practice. The audience will then have a chance to ask questions and learn from him directly. Afterwards, he will guide participants in their own process of making a coiled basket. Materials will be provided free of charge.
Over the last 12 years, Christopher has worked to revive basketry in Zuni, as well as worked with other Pueblos to revive their textile arts. He has studied ancient perishables such as baskets, textiles, wood, and feather work from the Greater Southwest housed in museums, including the Maxwell. In fact, he was a key consultant in our two temporary basket exhibits, currently on display.
Christopher now works to revive some of the prehistoric basket technology that he is studying, hence the main title of his public event "Reviving Knowledge."
This free and open event for all ages is in celebration of our two exhibits, “Conversing with the Land: Native North American Baskets of the Maxwell Museum Collection” as well as “We Were Basket Makers Before We Were Pueblo People.” We hope you’ll join us!
This public event is in part funded by a grant from the UNM Alfonso Ortiz Center for Intercultural Studies, which aims to create enduring collaborations that address community-driven priorities through public-facing anthropology and humanities initiatives.
