Description

Exhibition Prospectus (Working Title): Continuum

Overview

This exhibition will bring together selections from the Kennedy Museum of Art (KMA) historic
Southwest Native American (SWNA) collection with works by contemporary Native American artists to
explore continuity and enduring relationships between material knowledge, cultural identity, and
creative innovation. The KMA collection includes over 600 Navajo (Diné) weavings and over 1200
pieces by Navajo and Zuni artisans. The exhibition could frame these works as living expressions rooted
in community relationships, traditions, and evolving identity. The proposed process includes dialogue,
collaboration, and interpretation informed directly by Native voices.

Purpose

As a university-based museum serving both campus and regional communities, this exhibition offers an
opportunity to support learning across disciplines, deepen cultural understanding, and strengthen
relationships with Native communities represented in the KMA collections.

Exhibition Rationale

The museum aspires to place historic works in conversation with contemporary Native art that draws
from, reinterprets, or challenges inherited forms. The goal is to highlight cultural continuities and the
ongoing work of Native artists. The exhibition should be both accessible and rigorous, connecting
academic inquiry with the lived experiences and artistic practices of Indigenous peoples today.

Collaborative Approach

The exhibition seeks to prioritize consultation and shared authority. Advisory involvement from
represented artists and cultural educators will guide interpretation and programming. The goal is to
foster meaningful, ongoing relationships rather than short-term presentations.

Kennedy Museum of Art at Ohio University

KMA was established through the generosity of OU alumni Edwin L. & Ruth R. Kennedy who donated
the founding SWNA collection over 30 years ago. It serves both academic audiences and the broader
public. It supports interdisciplinary engagement across art history, Indigenous studies, anthropology,
design, American studies, museum studies, and studio practice. It supports scholarly inquiry and
research while offering accessible interpretation for local Pre-K-12 schools and community groups.

Proposed Core Objectives

Present the SWNA collection within a framework informed by Native perspectives.
Highlight contemporary Native artists expanding tradition into new media and ideas.
Encourage reflection on how museums collect, interpret, and share Indigenous cultural materials.
Support learning that bridges classroom, community, and creative practice.

Educational and Community Engagement Goals

• Support interdisciplinary teaching and learning in art history, Indigenous studies, anthropology, textile
  studies, American studies, and studio art.
• Provide local community members with meaningful opportunities to learn from Native American
  artists and cultural educators.
• Expand the museum’s role as a space for shared dialogue, reflection, and cultural exchange.
• Model collaborative practice by involving Diné and other Native advisors in interpretation,
  programming, and exhibition framing.

Potential Program Opportunities

• Workshops on weaving techniques, materials, and symbolism
• Demonstrations or open studio visits with contemporary Native American artists
• Public dialogues with scholars, artists, culture-bearers, and community leaders
• Student research opportunities related to conservation, oral history, or curatorial practice
• Pre-K–12 curriculum tie-ins emphasizing cultural and art literacy

Please submit
1) Letter of interest to include your curatorial concept based on the information above
2) CV including curatorial experience

Expected Deliverables for the Guest Curatorship:
Final curatorial statement
Final object list from KMA and contemporary artists
Final exhibition text
Suggested layout
Proposed supplementary materials
Commitment to give one curator talk either in person or virtually

Please note: The guest curator will be responsible for making contacts and securing permission for loans
of objects from outside of the museum.

Proposals accepted through November 16, 2026. One or two finalists will visit KMA to view the
collection in Spring of 2027. Exhibition development is anticipated between May and September 2027.
Potential exhibition opening in January 2028.

Compensation: Additional funding may become available through grants.
1) Curatorial Fee of $5,000 payable in two installments at the beginning of work and when
deliverables are complete.
2) Travel expenses for two visits to KMA.

For additional information including a list of previous KMA exhibitions that featured SWNA
collections, please contact Lisa Quinn, Registrar, Kennedy Museum of Art, Ohio University
(740-593-9832) QUINNL@ohio.edu

Please send proposals to QUINNL@ohio.edu on or before November 16, 2026.