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rt education is an underlying theme at many of Western
Art Week's shows, but it is most evident at Paris Gibson Square.
Operating year round as the only contemporary art museum
in an 80-mile radius, the staff at the Square works tirelessly
bringing nationally acclaimed artists to Great Falls with fresh
exhibits rotating in and out every three months. Specifically,
during Western Art Week, they specialize in Native art and
programming with a Native American culture.
Kristi Scott, curator of art, says, "Western Art Week is all about
the culture of the west and people are mesmerized by the
story. What we have going on in Great Falls is very captivating
as it definitely romanticizes the west and colonization. There's a
lot of Native American culture depicted in art work by a non-
Native American population. We think it's really important here
at the Square to provide a platform for Native Americans to
participate in their own representation of their culture."
Great Falls is the closest urban center for the Blackfeet
and the Chippewa Cree at Rocky Boy, and Fort Belknap
where there are Assiniboine Sioux populations. The Little Shell
population yearns for a voice as they have no land to call their
own. Scott says, "We're quite multi-cultural for a blue-collar
Montana community. Part of the pull is bringing something for
the Natives here in Great Falls and raising awareness about
cultural appropriation for non-Natives who are in town for
Western Art Week."
Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art
Providing a Platform for Native American Artists
By Heather Bode
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