Indigenous people are central to the story of popular culture in the Western Hemisphere, and popular culture is important to many Indigenous people and experiences. This exhibition, drawn from the Newberry’s growing collections for American Indian and Indigenous Studies, shared four centuries of Indigenous creators, athletes, activists, and fans engaged with pop—from pamphlets to comic books, and from daguerreotypes to video games.
Curators
Will Hansen, Roger and Julie Baskes Vice President for Collection and Library Services, and Curator of Americana.
River Ian Kerstetter (Onʌyota'a:ka / Wisconsin Oneida), Independent artist, designer, writer, and educator.
Exhibition-Related Programming
In this edition of “Conversations at the Newberry,” authors Darcie Little Badger and Joshua Whitehead discussed Indigenous approaches to Sci-Fi and Futurism.
Star Wars: A New Hope—Navajo Language Version
The Newberry presented the Navajo Language version of Star Wars: A New Hope. The Newberry's Will Hansen introduced the screening by sharing how this version was conceptualized and created.
Planting Seeds: An Indigenous Zine Fest
Indigenous zine makers and artists displayed and sold their zines and artwork. The event included hands-on activities led by artists.
The Return of Navajo Boy Screening and Discussion
This 25th Anniversary screening of The Return of Navajo Boy was followed by a panel discussion with family members from the film.
More About the Space
The Trienens galleries include an introductory gallery and a larger primary gallery. Exhibitions mounted there typically include 40-70 items from the Newberry's vast collections. Exhibitions in the Trienens galleries allow visitors to explore compelling themes and historical content in depth. Examples of past exhibitions include: Pop-Ups Through the Ages and Viva La Libertad. Click here to view a photo of the galleries.
Supporters
Native Pop! was generously supported by the Henry Luce Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.
