Cathy's Art Diary

Evocative exhibition at the British Museum looking at the one of the longest cultural traditions of North America which has continued despite environmental and social change.   As I walked up to the exhibition I suddenly remembered a book we were read at junior school called Beaverbird by Ruth Underhill which was set amongst the indigenous population of this area and all the words which I had found magical like potlatch came flooding back to me. It’s strange how these things come flooding back. You were greeted by a large welcome figure which would have faced the sea or be placed on a high location to welcome people to a village. There were some lovely objects. I loved a bowl in the shape of an animal on its back with its tail as a handle. I also liked the axes with fish heads and clubs with faces on them. It was sad to read that about 90% of the population died when the Europeans came and brought smallpox and that in the 20th century some of the children were for...

Fun exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery of portraits of American Indian’s by George Catlin. These were painted in the early 19th century during a period of great change in the American West as an attempt to document a changing way of life. I particularly liked the room hung to recreate how they were exhibited in London at the Egyptian Hall in 1841. One wall was hung thickly with them frame to frame and floor to ceiling.   It was an impressive sight and was only 5% of the original display. I liked the fact that all the sitters were named and many had a small history of their lives. I felt I’d like to be “One Who Gives No Attention”! Reviews Sunday Times Telegraph