Jackie Roberts
Staff writer
Aristotle once said, “The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”
Artists like Colleen Cutschall (Sister Wolf) proves these words to be true, though thousands of years have passed since they were spoken. Cutschall, a Native American, will be speaking at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Cutschall will discuss how her work is relevant to her Native American beliefs and culture in addition to the topic of Native American politics in the United States.
Each of Cutschall’s pieces of artwork portrays an effective message, she says.
“Developing a personal visual vocabulary is a process that takes a bit of time and for me continues to evolve with each new artwork,” Cutschall said. “I have often changed styles and media to be more effective at communicating ideas.”
Cutschall works in diverse mediums that can appeal to a variety of different audiences.
“I have produced drawings and paintings, photos, sculpture and installations,” she said. “Some of my work can be layered with many ideas that a culturally uninformed audience may find difficult to read but will hopefully find visually stimulating nonetheless.”
According to a university press release, Cutschall is originally from Pine Ridge, S.D., She has been working and living in southwest Manitoba as an artist, art historian, educator and curator for the last two decades. In addition to creating artwork, Cutschall is also president of the Native American Art Studies Association (NAASA), which is where she and Chisato Dubreuil, assistant professor of art history, became acquainted with one another.
Dubreuil said she is a strong supporter of Cutschall’s bold and creative work.
“Her work is so important, especially for minority people, because it is a struggle to be recognized. She serves as a voice to them,” Dubreuil said.
Serving as a voice, specifically for Native Americans, is a prime reason Cutschall became involved with art.
“I knew by my junior high years that I wanted to study art,” Cutshcall said. “Although the mission boarding school I attended did not have art classes, I took summer courses at a local high school. The most political and publicly available work is the culmination of my design of the Spirit Warriors bronze sculpture for the Aboriginal memorial at the Little Bighorn Battlefield in southeastern Montana. Thousands of visitors go to the memorial each year to learn more about the political history between colonists and indigenous peoples and experience the West.”
Cutschall’s presentation ties into the main ideals practiced at Bonaventure. Dubreuil compared some of the values of Clare courses to the themes Cutschall will cover in her presentation.
“Clare College introduces world views and different perspectives to students,” Dubreuil said. “Cutschall will open the eyes of students who may not have been informed about Native American culture.”
Bonaventure students are encouraged to attend this presentation not only to expose themselves to Cutchall’s unique form of Native American artwork, but also to gain an understanding of Native American culture in the United States. Cutschall will also be available after the presentation to speak to students personally.
For more information on Cutschall’s work, visit sisterwolf.com.
