December 2, 2024
Vessel in the form of an arm, Recuay, 200-700 CE, Northern Highlands, Peru. Earthenware with slip. The Fred Olsen Collection. 1967-29-62.
Vessel in the form of an arm, Recuay, 200-700 CE, Northern Highlands, Peru. Earthenware with slip. The Fred Olsen Collection. 1967-29-62.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Krannert Art Museum (KAM) is undertaking a groundbreaking project to revitalize its collection of pre-Hispanic Andean art, which has been a key part of the museum since it was first acquired in 1967 through a community fundraising campaign. The new installation, scheduled to open in spring 2025, is the outcome of a collaboration with the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) and incorporates insights from scholars and descendant communities throughout the Midwest and Peru. The collection, which includes textiles, ceramics, and objects made from gold, silver, wood, and shell, has not been updated since 1988 and will be reimagined to center Andean voices and histories.

In contrast to traditional approaches that group objects by culture or time period, this new installation will group items thematically. Co-curators Allyson Purpura, KAM’s senior curator, and Kasia Szremski, associate director of CLACS, are working with designer Julia de Castri to create a space that highlights Andean communities as active agents in creating their own art history, while also addressing the troubling past of looted objects turned into global commodities. 

Model of a Funeral Cortege Lambayeque, north coast, Peru 1000-1470 CE Silvered copper, cotton, reeds, feathers 6 x 23 ¼ x 10 ¼ in. 1967-29-303.
Model of a Funeral Cortege Lambayeque, north coast, Peru 1000-1470 CE Silvered copper, cotton, reeds, feathers 6 x 23 ¼ x 10 ¼ in. 1967-29-303.

 

A key feature of the installation will be an interactive digital platform co-created with Peruvian municipal museums and local communities. This platform will provide deeper insight into the objects' histories and allow ongoing involvement from Andean communities in the interpretation of their cultural heritage. It extends the exhibition beyond the museum walls, connecting the past and present through multimedia storytelling.

In addition to the exhibition, KAM’s education team, led by Rachel Storm, will offer a variety of cultural programming for all ages. This will include performances, workshops, and discussions with Andean artists, scholars, and educators, creating a vibrant, interactive learning environment. The project has received support from several institutions, including the University of Illinois and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

 

 

Pair of Sculptural Vessels in form of Llamas Chancay, central coast, Peru Ceramic 8 ¼ x 5 3/8 x 8 7/8 in. 8 ¼ x 5 ¼ x 9 ¼ in. 1967-29-330/331.
Pair of Sculptural Vessels in form of Llamas Chancay, central coast, Peru Ceramic 8 ¼ x 5 3/8 x 8 7/8 in. 8 ¼ x 5 ¼ x 9 ¼ in. 1967-29-330/331.

 

The project is supported by several prestigious grants, including the University of Illinois Presidential Initiative for the Celebration of Arts and Humanities and the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

Stay tuned for more exciting details about this upcoming installation!

Read full article here

Kero, Colonial Inca, 18th c. Wood with lacquer paint. The Fred Olsen Collection. 1967-29-403.
Kero, Colonial Inca, 18th c. Wood with lacquer paint. The Fred Olsen Collection. 1967-29-403.