The IU Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is reopening following renovation.
Exhibits in the lobby are open now, and Saturday’s grand opening will unveil two more in the William Mathers Gallery. Executive Director Brandie Macdonald said the grand opening is about the public.
“I think this is just such a wonderful opportunity to be able to open our doors, because we're here for community,” she said. “If we don't have a community day, what are we as a museum standing for?”
Macdonald said Saturday will celebrate Bloomington and the communities related to objects in the museum.
An exhibit titled “ Through Our Eyes: A Reclamation” features artworks from three indigenous guest curators. Debra Yepa-Pappan, who is Korean and Jemez Pueblo, said the exhibit reinterprets colonial photos from Native perspectives.
“I love to challenge museums and institutions,” she said. “This was a really great opportunity to also challenge the collection of photography of native people by non-natives.”
Macdonald said the museum aims to amplify the voices of the guest curators.
“We asked them, ‘What exhibit do you all want? Here's the base, and this is kind of the grant funding we have, but our goal is to make sure you tell your story from your perspective,’” Macdonald said.
Saturday’s grand opening starts at 12:30 p.m. Food and live music start at 1 p.m.
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