American Indian sculptures to be displayed at
Christopher Newport University
News Release - August 29, 2005
contact:
Karen L. Gill
karen.gill@cnu.edu
(757) 594-8428
Sculptor Griffin Chiles |
Chiles' life-sized bronze bust of Sequoyah, creator of the Cherokee written language, holding a tablet of his work. |
(NEWPORT NEWS, VA) — One holds a tablet, another a rifle. One wears a necklace of crows' feet, another a crown of antlers. All are different, but with one thing in common -- they are members of a proud people fighting for their culture.
They are the 51 life-sized bronze busts of American Indians to be displayed together for the first time Sept. 2-26 at the Ferguson Center for the Arts on the campus of Christopher Newport University in Newport News.
The busts, created by Norfolk-based sculptor Griffin Chiles, represent American Indian men and women of many tribes -- living as well as long-passed, famous and unknown. Each of the detailed, realistic busts will be exhibited along with biographical information on the individual represented.
Wearing the crown of antlers is the bust of the current Chief Sakarissa of the Tuscarora tribe, Iroquoian-speaking people who originally lived in present-day North Carolina. The chief's face is depicted with a grandfatherly kindness that contrasts sharply with the angry countenance of the well-known leader of the Apaches, Geronimo, represented in a familiar pose, gripping his gun.
"I've traveled all over the country and out west, and I always go on a reservation and meet with the chiefs," said Chiles, a sculptor since the age of 12. She depicted individuals chosen by chiefs to represent their tribes. The chiefs chose living members of the tribe, based on appearance, to serve as models for deceased Indians. All Virginia chiefs selected living individuals.
Even to Chiles, the process of creating the likenesses of individuals is something of a mystery.
"It's a creative thing that I can't explain. I think it was something I was born with," she said.
Chiles spent about three months creating each one, using the lost wax bronze process. "Bronze is an ancient process – it's 4,000 years old and this would create a permanent monument to them," Chiles said of her reasons for selecting bronze.
An honorary member of the Cherokee tribe, Chiles grew up in Louisville, Ky., where she was fascinated by the history of American Indians in her home state.
"Griffin Chiles is of European descent, but her heart is Indian," writes James A. Hoobler, a Tennessee State Museum curator, to begin the preface of Chiles' self-published book of photographs and descriptions of the sculptures. During the exhibit, the book will be available for purchase in the university's bookstore.
Chiles has donated the sculptures to the university, so that they will remain together and serve to educate all people about American Indians.
The exhibit, "The American Indian: Bronze Sculpture by Griffin," opens to the public at 4:45 p.m. on Sept. 2, and will be open for viewing Monday through Saturday at the center until Sept. 26. Also on display Sept. 2-23 at CNU's Ferguson Center for the Arts are Inuit prints created by natives of the Canadian arctic using three techniques. The prints are on loan from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. That exhibit, "Inuit Images: Art from the Canadian Arctic" will be open to the public in the Falk Gallery.
For more information, contact Elaine B. Viel, CNU Department of Art and Art History, at (757) 594-7930.
If you go
What: "The American Indian: Bronze Sculpture by Griffin"
When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Mon.-Fri.; noon to 4 p.m., Sat. Closed Sunday. Sept. 2-26, 2005.
Where: Academic Area, Ferguson Center for the Arts, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Va.
Free and open to the public.
What: "Inuit Images: Art from the Canadian Arctic"
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, Sept. 23.
Where: Falk Gallery, Ferguson Center for the Arts, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Va.
Parking: Visitor's parking in Lot I
Christopher Newport University is a four-year public university in Newport News, Virginia. CNU enrolls 4,800 students in programs through its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the School of Business and offers great teaching, small classes and an emphasis on leadership, civic engagement and honor. Visit us at www.cnu.edu.