Indy’s Eiteljorg Museum debuts brand new exhibit "Blurring The Line" and prepares for November line-up.

November is Native American Heritage Month - and the Eiteljorg Museum debuted a new contemporary art exhibit to celebrate. "Blurring the Line" opened to the public on November 16, and celebrates transformative creativity in modern Native American art.

As the only museum of its kind in the Midwest showcasing Native American art and art of the American West, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is the ultimate destination for Native American Heritage festivities.

Blurring the Line

This past Saturday, the downtown museum kicked off the new exhibit with a live round-table session with the featured artists. Made possible by its pairing with the Eiteljorg Contemporary Art Fellowship, devoted to increasing awareness and appreciation of Native American art, the exhibit features five Native American comtemporary artists from North America.

The fellowship for "Blurring the Line" is composed of five Native artists from across the United States and Canada. One of the most highly anticpated features are renowned Canadian artists Rita Letendre, whose work "Sunburst" is shown below, and Hannah Claus.

Imported ImageThe new exhibit dives into the idea of how we view “traditional” and “contemporary” Native art. The line between the two are blurred, as contemporary Native art reflects both tradition and modern day, rejects stereotypes, and uniquely connects each featured artist in one outstanding tribute. This exhibit blurs the line between these two themes, while challenging the labels and definitions previously assigned to Native art.

Native American Heritage Month at the Eiteljorg Museum

Looking for more ways to celebrate Native American Heritage Month? Donate new toys to the Toys for Turtle Mountain’s Annual Toy Drive, also located at the Eiteljorg. Donations will help provide holiday gifts for children living on the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Reservation in Belcourt, North Dakota.

The Eiteljorg will also be debuting its annual holiday showcase Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure tomorrow 10 AM. This year’s exhibition will add the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and historic Spanish missions of the Southwest to the impressive list of attractions featured.

Experience and celebrate tradition, history, and art this Native American Hertiage Month at the Eiteljorg Museum.


Rita Letendre (Abenaki, born 1928)

Sunburst, 1971

Oil on canvas

31 x 40 in.

Museum Purchase: Eiteljorg FellowshipForOther images are courtesy of the Eiteljorg Museum.