IACB Features Allen Knows His Gun and Karis Jackson in a Special Exhibition

SUMMER SHOWCASE

Image

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 25, 2018

BROWNING, MONTANA: The Museum of the Plains Indian, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Arts and Crafts Board, announces the opening of a special exhibition, Summer Showcase, featuring Allen Knows His Gun and Karis Jackson.  The exhibition will run from August 3 to September 29, 2018.  On Friday, August 3, 2018, there will be an opening reception from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Allen Knows His Gun, an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe, is a skilled painter.  He holds a B.A. in American Indian Studies from Haskell University (Lawrence, Kansas) and a M.A. in Indigenous Studies from the University of Kansas. 

Much of his work reflects his Crow heritage, as well as other Plains Indian tribes.  His depictions of American Indian people and life span from the pre-Reservation era to the present.  Careful research is evident in his work, which includes authentic portrayals of regalia and scenery.  His work reflects the genres of romantic realism and impressionism.  Brilliant colors and the use of bold light and shadows have become signatures of his elegant style.

His works of art have been previously exhibited at the Montana State University Gallery (Bozeman, Montana), Gilcrease Museum (Tulsa, Oklahoma), and Haskell Indian Nations University. 

Karis Jackson, an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe, is a talented artist who works in a variety of media.  Taught at a young age by her grandmother, Kathy Real Bird, Karis recalls sitting together with her grandmother and beading for hours as a child.  These early experiences had a profound impact on her life.  Many of the stories and life lessons she learned from her grandmother as a young girl are reflected in her work.

Karis beads using traditional Crow geometric designs, shapes and colors, as well as a variety of floral patterns.  She uses cut glass beads, elk hides, and various traditional materials and methods to create a wide range of Crow style beadwork, including regalia, dolls, and beaded picture frames.  She often combines this with contemporary techniques such as shading colors or adding portraits of her ancestors to the work.  Through her artwork, she seeks to express her culture as well as invite the viewer to share a connection to her people.  Karis takes great pride in her heritage and her skill

as an artist.

This exhibit marks the first exhibition of her work in a museum setting. 

Prices for the artwork can be obtained by contacting The Blackfeet Indian Market at (253) 709-1887.

* Exhibition brochure 

The Museum of the Plains Indian is managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Arts and Crafts Board.  For admission fees and hours of operation, please call the Museum of the Plains Indian at (406) 338-2230.