Eiteljorg Museum 2003 Annual Report

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Eiteljorg Museum 2003 Annual Report We chose Blazing New Frontiers as the theme for our 2003 annual report
because the phrase evokes feelings of growth, development and innovation
feelings that havent been this strong since we first opened our doors in 1989.
You can feel the excitement brewing as the Eiteljorg expands its borders and
opens new frontiers. Join us as we look back at 2003, and see how we are growing for the future. We dedicate this annual report to: Dr. Sonja Eiteljorg, who passed away July 1, 2003. Sonja and her husband, the late Harrison Eiteljorg, founded the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. She served on the museums board of directors until 2002, when she was elected its first director emeritus. The museum and the many other organizations supported by the Eiteljorgs serve as lasting legacies in Indianapolis. Carolyn Kincannon, who passed away Jan. 14, 2003. Carolyn was involved with the Eiteljorg Museum since its inception as a volunteer guide, member of several museum councils, board member, executive committee member and generous patron. Her enthusiasm, kindness and business sense helped further the museums mission and enhanced the lives of everyone who knew her. On the cover:
Charles Schreyvogel
Off for Town, n.d., Oil on canvas, 19 1 / 2 x 16 1 / 2 Gift courtesy of The Gund Collection of Western Art. Swirling, dazzling glass isnt the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of the Eiteljorg Museum. So when we opened 2003 by filling the museum with Dale Chihuly glassbecoming a Seattle on the Canal, if you willwe were putting you on notice: Keep your eye on us. We hope you didnt blink. Because by the end of the year, we had blessed and then broken ground on a long-held dream, to expand the Eiteljorg Museum to a degree that will astound you when were finished. In between, we lost some very dear friends, yet made some wonderful new ones. Two generous collectors announced that the Eiteljorg Museum would be the recipient of their collections. Actor, artist and activist Michael Horse joined us for the first time as our Indian Market emcee (and hes coming back in 2004!), as did rock- and-blues band Indigenous. We presented another provocative exhibition in the biennial Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Fine Art series and brought author, comedian and screenwriter Sherman Alexie to its opening. Now, as we look out our northern windows, we see earth movers and builders blazing a new frontier for the Eiteljorg Museum. Stay with us in 2004 as we continue to build, literally and figuratively, for the future. With your help, the Eiteljorg will continue to enhance the lives of everyone it touches. John Vanausdall President and CEO Stan Hurt Chairman of the Board From the President and Chairman Stan Hurt and John Vanausdall Photo by R. Brent Smith 1 The exhibitions we presented in 2003 highlighted every portion of our mission, from a historical perspective and through artwork being created today. First, in the name of contemporary Western art, we surprised many people by turning the Eiteljorg into a Dale Chihuly gallery with three exhibitions by this master of glass, Wrapped in Tradition: The Chihuly Collection of American Indian Trade Blankets, Fire Work: The Art of Dale Chihuly and Indiana Collects the West: Chihuly. Museum supporters Leland and LaRita Boren allowed us to cover the West with Frontier Reverie: The Boren Collection of Western Art, and Donald B. and Jean O. Korb shared their Native American holdings in the exhibit Navajo Weavings of the Korb Collection. One of the countrys finest collections of Native American baskets graced our gallery in the historical exhibit Woven Worlds: Basketry from the Clark Field Collection. And we presented the third round in the contemporary, biennial Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Fine Art 2003, along with a special showing of artwork by the programs distinguished artist in Sensual Texture: The Art of Kay WalkingStick. Exhibitions that touched all frontiers During the exhibit of Dale Chihulys work,
White River Trader extended the store
to the second floor of the museum.
Store sales during the Chihuly exhibits
were higher than that same time period
any other year. 2 Dale Chihuly
Amparo Purple Persian Set with
Pansy Yellow Lip Wraps
2000
10 x 18 x 13 Photo: Scott M. Leen From the exhibit Fire Work: The Art of Dale Chihuly 3 National Anthropological Archives,
Smithsonian/81-13439.
E.S. Curtis photograph of Wishram
woman making a basket
c. 1909 From the exhibition Woven Worlds: Basketry from the Clark Field Collection. Louisa Keyser (Washoe)
Degikup basket
1917-1918 From the exhibition Woven Worlds: Basketry from the Clark Field Collection. Flag weaving, Navajo
ca. 1930
Germantown yarns
Courtesy of the Collection of
Donald B. and Jean O. Korb From the exhibit Navajo Weavings of the Korb Collection. 4 2003 Distinguished Artist
Kay WalkingStick (Cherokee)
Gioioso Variation II
Oil and gold leaf on wood
2001
32 x 64 Collection of the Eiteljorg Museum. Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (Din