Native American Art Pioneer Finishes Her Tour at SAM

Jaune Quick-To-See Smith’s painting / The Evergreen Echo

This final stop is a return home. After consistent gallery renovations at the Seattle Art Museum downtown, Jaune Quick-to-see Smith hits Seattle Art Museum downtown’s special exhibit with a vast collection with over five decades of work with Memory Map. At the premier member reception for the show’s opening, Laura Phipps, Associate Curator from the Whitney Museum of American Art dissected motifs through the collection. Memory Map reigned on the impacts of colonialism within America over the decades. We see a clear overlay of the land Smith knew muddled through all the modern chaos of politics, racism, pollution.

Jaune Quick-to-see Smith is a citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation, some of the land in the PNW. As it became a constant reminder of the land museums sit on, it was refreshing and even more personally evoking to see Salish art tour and return to the PNW area from a long tour. The works contained progression from traditional art, and Smith brings a contemporary approach to Native American art, including the batique approach to cloth again incorporating the theme of landscapes, maps, and her Salish roots. 

Only white wine is allowed in the auditorium, and the presentation was perfectly paired with a glass. In the presentation, Phipps highlighted key pieces in the collection that showcase canoes and animals that are seen painted over landscapes across the collection. Phipps quickly closed the presentation to let the patrons have early access, and while the catered lite bites and wine open bar was tempting, the collection begged to be experienced. And as intriguing and captivating the preview of the collection was, the presentation slides could not compare. 

When artists tour at the SAM, they go big, in ideas and size. Smith did not stray away. The vast landscapes and maps were highlighted by the immense size of the pieces. The works overtook the space ranging from paintings, sculpture, collage. A highlight of the collection that must be seen in detail are the newspaper clippings pasted onto the various works. If the work itself did not compel reflection, then the surprising recent history of our country may. “Bush administration asserts power to declare tribes extinct”, “Multiculturalism: Sounds nice, but it has dangers”, and “Sox Won’t Concede to Indians” are just a few of the headline clippings across the collection. Smith’s collection of work over the decades shows clear progression of modern day America’s impact on a culture that continues trying to survive today.

Come for the art and stay for the wine – or is it the other way around? It was necessary that the endless wine be paired with some food. It would only be responsible. As a SAM member, the exclusive event invites and endless access to their art is much worth the donation. And as always, the SAM hosted another successful member event. It is always a shameless plug that nonprofits wouldn’t run without their donors, and they aren’t wrong. 

Smith’s Memory Map has traveled and hit its last stop here in Seattle’s Seattle Art Museum downtown. Visit the Seattle Art Museum downtown before May 12, 2024 to catch this last chance to experience the poignant, empowering perspective of this robust collection. Find tickets here.