American Indian Museum exhibit "Brian Jungen: Strange Comfort" great for kids

"Wow, look at that!"
What has grabbed the kids' attention so thoroughly? It is a large, green pod begging them to enter and explore. What strikes an adult as remarkable is the pod’s unusual composition. It is made entirely of hundreds of cut up green trash cans, layered one over the other to create a domed structure. "carapace" is one of the amazing works by Brian Jurgen currently on display in the National Museum of the American Indian's first solo art exhibition: "Brian Jungen: Strange Comfort". Jungen, a Dunne-za First Nations/Swiss-Canadian from Fort St. John, British Columbia, cuts up ordinary objects--such as trash cans and baseball gloves--and reconfigures them into replicas of other objects. He draws upon themes in native culture, western consumerism, and pop culture in creating his unusual, thought-provoking installations. The exhibition is slated to run until August 8, 2010.

"carapace"

The show’s large scale objects attract attention because they look like one thing, a totem pole or a suit of armor, but upon closer examination are revealed to be something else entirely. Totem poles are constructed from golf bags. A whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling is revealed to be made of cut up, white, resin chairs. Children take delight in  playing the guessing game of "what am I?" followed by "what am I made of?".  

Many of the artworks reference native culture, such as the golf bag totem poles. The children, who were unfamiliar with these cultural objects, were full of questions as to their meanings. Later, in visiting other museum galleries, they were able to make connections from the art works to the objects that inspired them. The museum's web site features an interesting curator's analysis of Jungen's work as well as a biography of the artist. Boys especially will be interested in learning that Jungen intentionally incorporates sports-related materials (Nike shoes, baseballs, catcher's mitts) into his artwork. He explains that he is fascinated by the ways in which professional sports fulfill the need for ceremony in modern culture. He deconstructs these new ceremonial objects and reconfigures them to achieve a different symbolic meaning.  

"The Prince"

After moving through “carapace”, the children are drawn ever deeper into the exhibition. The large art works are visually enticing and the curators have installed them along a meandering pathway that encourages visitors, especially children, to wander. Another striking piece lures visitors to another a fresh discovery around the next corner. The children eagerly move from one piece to the next. Once they loop the room, they return to revisit their favorites. With each trip around, they found something new and wonderful. Their verdict? A first rate trip to the museum.