Retracing Audubon: A Confluence of Histories
Retracing Audubon: A Confluence of Histories, as a confluence of rivers uniting in strength, photographers Krista Elrick and ASU professor Stephen Marc will join with cultural awareness facilitator Marcia Warren Edelman and Standing Rock Sioux historian Jon Eagle to explore the contemporary consequences of European American, African American and Native American histories converging in the time of John James Audubon.
This moderated conversation is in conjunction with the exhibition Retracing Audubon: Contemporary Views by ASU alumna Krista Elrick. The waterways in Elrick's photographs are evidence to a dynamic history that engaged European settlers like Audubon, African slaves, and Native American people, often in conflict, as they partook of the natural bounty. As their descendants, we now seek a way forward in a much changed land. We can look back with an awareness that recognizes the varied perspectives these people had and redefine these overlapping histories not as divergent or disparate, but as American and contributing to our strength and continuing struggles for equity and reconciliation.
Elrick’s striking photographs render the landscapes and waterways Audubon traveled as he searched for bird specimens and developed his art. In addition to Elrick's photographs the community gallery will exhibit Marc’s thought-provoking composited photographs that layer images to reveal the history of the Underground Railroad. Diné artist Averian Chee has collaborated with Elrick on a one-of-a-kind piece that will be exhibited in the community gallery along with designs, stencils and posters from the Standing Rock Souix demonstrations last fall where he supervised the art production.
Join us in the gallery on third Friday, Feb. 17, at 6:30 p.m. for the conversation moderated by Northlight Gallery curator Liz Allen.
Performances and music will follow until 10 p.m.