Dalgar Communications Group

DENVER, (April 20, 2011) — As part of a year-long look at modern, contemporary and traditional American Indian arts, the Denver Botanic Gardens presents the outdoor sculpture exhibit, Native Roots | Modern Form: Plants, Peoples and the Art of Allan Houser, May 1 – November 13, 2011.

This centerpiece show features more than 20 bronze works created by American modernist Allan Houser (Warm Springs Chiricahua Apache, 1914–1994). Houser’s pioneering 20th century personality opened doors for future generations of Native artists, and is one of the most important American artists of the 20^th Century.

“His work serves as a springboard for exploring the preservation of cultural and botanical heritage,” says Gardens CEO Brian Vogt. “Allan Houser is an important American artist who fused traditional Native American subject matter with modern forms. His pieces allow visitors to feel the artist’s connection to the land and pride in his Native ancestry.”

The Gardens is also offering many related exhibitions and programs for adults, families and youth, including guided tours, workshops and a monthly film series highlighting indigenous voices and issues. The monthly lecture series, “Contemporary Perspectives: A Series”, broadens understanding and observations about Houser’s work and contemporary issues facing Native artists today. Visit www.botanicgardens.org for the most current information on these and other offerings.

Gates Garden Court Gallery Shows

• Feb 9 - May 8, 2011 - Story Keeper: Works by Melanie Yazzie
  A new body of work by Melanie Yazzie (Diné) tells plant-inspired stories. While colorful and whimsical, her work has serious undertones, and references Native post-colonial dilemmas. She often brings images of indigenous women to the forefront, alluding to matrilineal systems and pointing to the possibility of female leadership.

• May 19 – Aug 7, 2011 - Between the Real and the Imagined: Installation by Truman Lowe
  Join Truman Lowe (Ho-Chunk) as he seeks to understand his natural surroundings through site-specific sculpture. This installation embodies the movement of water, offering a visual dialogue with the Gardens’ environment. Additional wall-mounted works and works on paper round out the show.

• Aug 20 – Nov 6, 2011 - AIR LAB: Photography by Will Wilson
  In the Auto Immune Response (AIR) series, Wilson (Diné) addresses the relationship between a post-apocalyptic Diné man and the beautiful, but toxic environment he inhabits. The series investigates rapid transformation of indigenous lifeways, the dis-ease it has caused and strategies of response that enable cultural survival. A Greenhouse Hogan is featured in Oak Grove.

• Nov. 19, 2011 – Feb. 5, 2012 - Sonic Drum: new age indian: Installation coordinated by Bob Haozous, Joseph Sanchez and Roxanne Swentzell
  Orchestrated by the FreeApache artist collective, led by Bob Haozous (Chiricahua Apache), Joseph Sanchez (Taos Pueblo) and Roxanne Swentzell (Santa Clara Pueblo), Sonic Drum presents a universal vision of spirituality in the form of the cross-cultural ceremonial drum and brings together indigenous artists from around the world.

About Allan Houser
Born on June 30, 1914, Allan C. Haozous was to become known as Allan Houser. His parents were members of the Chiricahua Apache tribe and were held as prisoners of war for 27 years. Houser was born just months after their release, the first child born out of captivity. As a young man in 1934, he enrolled in the Painting School at the Santa Fe Indian School, becoming its most famous student.

In 1962, Houser joined the faculty of the newly created Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe. There, he founded the sculpture department and created three-dimensional works that integrated modernism with his narrative ideas. By the late 1960s, recognition of his unique style grew. Houser retired from teaching in 1975 to devote himself to his own work. In the following two decades, he produced nearly 1,000 sculptures, emerged as a major international figure and had nearly 50 solo exhibitions in museums and galleries in the U.S., Europe and Asia. He continued working until his death in 1994.

This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.

About Denver Botanic Gardens
Green inside and out, the Gardens is considered one of the top botanical gardens in the United States and a pioneer in water conservation. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Gardens’ living collections encompass specimens from the tropics to the tundra, showcasing a plant palette chosen to thrive in Colorado’s semi-arid climate. The Gardens' dynamic, 23-acre urban oasis in the heart of the city is now in its 52nd year, offering unforgettable opportunities to flourish with unique garden experiences for the whole family – as well as world-class education and plant conservation research programs. Additional sites at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, a 750-acre wildlife and native plant refuge in Jefferson County; and Mount Goliath, a high-altitude trail and interpretive site on the Mount Evans Scenic Byway, extend this experience throughout the Front Range. For more information, visit www.botanicgardens.org or call 720-865-3500. 

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