Live (sort of), this week at the NMAI in NYC, a performance by artist Erica Lord (Inupiaq/Athabaskan) who will re-enact James Luna’s seminal performance work, the Artifact Piece. First performed in 1987, this work famously disrupted the historic objectification of Native people in museums and symbolically seized control of Native representation. Twenty years later, Lord investigates the power of the original performance and invites a discussion of its continued relevance.

(photo courtesy-erica lord)

THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2008, 2:00–5:30 pm followed by a 6:00 pm lecture and dialogue with the artist by NMAI Curator Paul Chaat Smith (<-YAY Paul!)

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2008, 10:00 am–12:00 pm/2:00–4:00 pm
SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2008, 1:00–4:00 pm

George Gustav Heye Center

National Museum of the American Indian

Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House

One Bowling Green, New York City

The George Gustav Heye Center is adjacent

to Battery Park between State and Whitehall

Streets in Lower Manhattan.

Subway: 4 or 5 to Bowling Green, R or W to

Whitehall, 2 or 3 to Wall Street, 1 to South

Ferry. Bus: M1, M6, or M15 to South Ferry

“Is that bitch wearing the same scarf as me?” | “Um, that right, Kemosabe.”

Time to don your tight Cowboy unitards and Indian-fringed pajamas, children, because the Lone Ranger is back in town.

[courtesy Hollywood Reporter]

“Writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio are going from “shiver me timbers!” to “Hi-ho Silver!”

The writing duo, best known for their work on the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, are in final negotiations to write a live-action big-screen adaptation of “The Lone Ranger” for Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

The hero’s origin story begins with a group of Texas Rangers chasing down a gang of outlaws led by Butch Cavendish. The gang ambushes the Rangers, seemingly killing them all. One survivor is found, however, by an American Indian named Tonto, who nurses him back to health. The Ranger, donning a mask and riding a white stallion named Silver, teams up with Tonto to bring the unscrupulous gang and others of that ilk to justice.

Bruckheimer is producing “Ranger,” and Bruckheimer Films’ Mike Stenson and Chad Oman are executive producing. Jason Reed is overseeing at Disney.”

We have a crisp five dollar bill that says the role of Tonto goes to Adam Beach.

In a recent press release posted to The Hollywood Reporter website it was revealed that Canadian actor, Adam Beach, would be a juror for this year’s All-Access “minority” film-maker program. That’s pretty decent news given the company in which Adam will be judging; such autueurs and art- film tastemakers as Jesse L. Martin, Damon Dash (WTF?), and Joy Bryant (!?) who are but a few of the total 10 jurors who will participate in the fifth annual Tribeca All Access program. Basically all a bunch of actors judging film. Again, actors judging film. Good Lord?
So Jesse L. Martin is o.k. I guess. He’s been around-on T.V.- for a long while, but “Who the fuck is Joy Bryant?”, you may be asking yourself.
Well I will tell you who she is, a wannabe actress who’s few credits, besides modeling for Tommy Hilfiger, include playing the “understanding girlfriend” in Denzel Washington’s Antwone Fisher. Wow with credentials like that it’s a wonder she hasn’t sat on the jury at Cannes. (She probably has!)
Don’t even get me started on Damon Dash! He definitely don’t know shit about shit let alone film making. But hey he’s married to that hot Rachel Roy chick and that’s goos enough, right?
Anyway, I can see why you’d pick an actor who happens to be Aboriginal from Canada as a juror-though I doubt his judging capabilities-but Damon Dash and Joy Bryant?
But if I were a filmmaker going through the All-Access program this year I would be shitting my pants in trepidation and protest!

NAICA is gearing up for it’s Spring edition and in keeping with the season of blossoming love and flowers and shit like that we were wondering what the hell is American Indian (South, North, Central…all western hemispheric and whatnot) love all about anyway?

Tell us your grand love stories whether they be Indio encima Indio, cross generational, multi-cultural or inter-tribal, we want to hear how and why Native people fall in love these days-with or with out an open bar-because we’re tired of reading about it in romance novels!
Reply with your insights and we will reprint them in an upcoming editorial on this very topic in our all new all love on all pages in the next edition of NAICA online.

Caveats:
-Must be 18 years or older.
-No pornography please. We don’t care about the physical mechanics of “love” only the esoteric/romantic why of it all.
-Must give NAICA onine permission to reprint your ideas/stories OR we will use your shit and give you a pseudonym like “Jennifer Tickles Cocks” cause we’re professional like that.
-Must be Indigenous in some provable way (ahahahahahaaaahahahaha).

Send your reply to:
naica.content@gmail.com
with your name, age and verifiable email address so we can send you a release form.

Limit (250 words or so) please
BTW, this is a truly serious piece of scholarship we’re aiming for …hmmm.

www. thenaica. org

It’s that time of the year again Indigenous folks-time to get your hard-worked film into Native oriented festivals.

First stop: San Francisco, CA-The American Indian Film Institute is currently seeking film and video entries for the 33rd annual American Indian Film Festival. As the nations oldest and most prestigious venue for American Indian film arts and entertainment, the American Indian Film Festival has earned a reputation for excellence and integrity. At Film Festival 2007, AIFI premiered and/or screened over 100 film and video works from American and Canadian filmmakers. The annual Film Festival and American Indian Motion Picture Awards Show, produced by AIFI Founder and President Michael Smith, draws an audience of nearly 5,000, anticipating the latest in American Indian film, video, and music.

The 2008 American Indian Film Festival will be presented November 7-15 in San Francisco, California. Films to be entered for competition should be by or about American Indian or Canada First Nations people and produced during year 2007-2008. Entry deadline is August 5, 2008.

The major categories for competition are: Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Feature Film, Live Short Subject, Music Video, Animated Short Subject, Public Service and Industrial. All entries must be accompanied by promotional materials, including production credits, publicity stills, as well as a film synopsis, not to exceed 250 words. Entrants are responsible for all shipping costs to and from AIFI’s San Francisco office.

A Film Jury, designated by the American Indian Film Institute, will screen entries and issue recommendations for the final program and award nominations. During the week of September 29, 2008, entrants will be notified of their selection to the 2008 American Indian Film Festival & Video Exposition. The American Indian Motion Picture Awards, recognizing outstanding Indian cinematic accomplishments, will be presented the evening of November 15 at the Palace of Fine Arts, 3301 Lyon Street, in San Francisco. Each entry must include: Completed entry form; film synopsis; DVD/VHS screener; Signed Regulations Agreement Form; Entry Fee $50.00 (U.S. Funds). Entry fee payable: American Indian Film Institute.

Please check the AIFI website – www.aifisf.com for American Indian Film Festival entry application and regulations form.

Entry forms can also be obtained by writing or calling the American Indian Film Institute
333 Valencia Street, Suite 322, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA. Telephone: 415. 554. 0525, or Fax: 415. 554. 0542. You may also e-mail AIFI at: filmfestival@aifisf.com

2008 Film Festival Sponsorship packets are available now. Sponsorships range from $10,000 to $50,000. Reserve early.

The American Indian Film Institute (AIFI) is a non-profit media arts center founded in 1979 to foster understanding of the culture, traditions and issues of contemporary Native Americans.

Contemporary Native Art @ the Salena Gallery (surrounding the Spike Lee Screening Room)

Opening Reception: March 6th 5-8

Performance program: March 9th

Co-curators: Deborah Everett and Raquel Chapa

Featuring works by
Thosh Collins
Mario Martinez
Peter Jemison
Yatika Fields
Jeffrey Gibson
Sarah Sense
Miranda Belarde-Lewis
Joseph Williams
Annabel Wong

Humanities Gallery: Lorenzo Clayton and the Dust Dive

Native Voices comprises three exhibitions of contemporary Native
work. The exhibitions offer a rare opportunity for the New York
public to engage with the work of contemporary Native artists from
Canada and across the U.S.– and it will include some of the
most moving and original work being currently made in any art
community. The works represent a cross-section of contemporary
sensibilities, commenting on the challenges of the postmodern world.
Some deal with issues of identity, including that of being an
outsider in a mass society. The work may or may not hint at the
ethnicity of its maker, but it consistently employs powerful
strategies to grapple with modern life in a global world.

Show in conjunction with FiveMyles gallery
http://www.fivemyles.org

and
Kentler International Drawing Space
http://www.kentlergallery.org/index.html