Museum of the Plains Indian to Feature "Fine Arts Summer Showcase"

May 22, 2015

 

BROWNING, MT: The Museum of the Plains Indian, administered by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board of the U.S. Department of the Interior, announces the opening of the special exhibition Fine Arts Summer Showcase, featuring Robert Allan McCoy-Apangalook, Louis Still Smoking, and Jay Young Running Crane. The exhibit will run from June 5 to August 21, 2015. On Friday, June 5, 2015, there will be an opening reception from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

Robert Allan McCoy-Apangalook, a Siberian Yupik Alaska Native, creates both traditional and contemporary carvings. His studio, Utuqsiq Art Galleries, is located in Gambell, AK, where Robert lives with his family.

 

Inspired by a rich family tradition, Robert began carving when he was 15 years old. His first ivory carving of a sea otter launched his career as an artist. As Robert grew more experienced, he began to incorporate new ideas and materials into his artwork. He now works in diverse materials such as walrus ivory, whale bone, and polar bear claws. He carves traditional figures from these and other materials, such as seals, polar bears, and whales, as well as contemporary pieces, such as earrings, knives, and picture frames.

 

Robert hopes that his artwork will serve as an inspiration for a new generation of Alaska Native carvers.

 

Louis Still Smoking, an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe, is a contemporary artist who works primarily in oil paints. Raised in Browning, MT, he attended high school at Flandreau Indian School in Flandreau, SD. Louis currently lives in Bozeman, MT, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Montana State University.

 

While beginning his artistic career as a stone sculptor, over time his work expanded into other mediums. He now works primarily in oil paints on canvas, but also produces prints, graphite drawings, and murals. Inspiration for Lewis' artwork comes from his family, the history of the Blackfeet people, and the Impressionist painters. Through his art he seeks to portray the human condition of Native American people in a modern context.

 

Louis' work has been featured in Native Max Magazine, as well as displayed at Montana State University's Helen Copeland Gallery and Native American Studies Gallery of Contemporary American Indian Art.

 

Jay Young Running Crane, an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe, works primarily as a beadwork artist. He currently lives in Browning, Montana.

 

As a child, Jay displayed a natural artistic talent. While attending Flandreau Indian School, he participated in formal art classes, and began to develop his drawing techniques. After returning to his home in Browning, Jay's work continued to evolve and he began to experiment with painting. Inspired by the beadwork of other Blackfeet artists, Jay began to incorporate beadwork into his art, eventually arriving at his current technique of creating fully beaded images.

 

While Jay has participated in several art markets and shows, he has gained greater recognition for selling his beaded images directly to the residents and visitors on the Blackfeet Reservation.