Photographer to Speak on Western Myths, Art
WILLIAMSTOWN — Contemporary photographer and professor of photography Larry McNeil will discuss Frederic Remington's legacy and how it has shaped his own art on Thursday, May 1, at 7 p.m.The lecture, "Fly By Night Mythology: Making Art out of American Mythologies," will be held at Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in conjunction with the museum's exhibit "Remington Looking West." The talk is free and open to the public.
For more than a century, Remington's art has been an integral part of the mythology of the West.
McNeil, who teaches at Boise State University in Idaho, was recently honored with a 2007 Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Fine Art.
Like the trickster Raven that appears in many of his works, McNeil addresses serious questions with humor and wit. He upends stereotypes of Indians that circulate through art and mass media and provocatively recasts them. His work is equally about the American experience, favored myths, what happens at the intersection of cultures, and how different people perceive a shared history.
Through a discussion of his art, McNeil will offer further context for considering the legacy of Remington.
"Remington Looking West" is on view through May 4.
The Clark is located at 225 South St. The galleries are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 to 5. Admission is free through May 31. For more information, call 413-458-2303 or visit www.clarkart.edu
