Published by the University of Minnesota Press. 2008. ISBN :
978-0-8166-5054-5 (hc : alk. paper) — ISBN : 978-0-8166-5055-2 (pb
: alk. paper). (266 pages, illustrated).
Subjects :
1. Indians of North America—Museums.
2. Indians of North America—Material culture—Exhibitions.
3. Indians of North America—Antiquities—Exhibitions.
4. Museum techniques—North America.
5. Taxidermy—North America.
Contents : Reading Banff Park Museum - Celluloid Salvage - Salvaging Sound at Last Sight - Repatriation’ s Remainders.
In the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum, a small exhibition space located in the Rocky Mountain tourist town of Banff, Alberta, a ubiquitous fantasy of aboriginal authenticity is materialized once again in the form of the dioramic mise - en - scene. A series of tableaux utilize plastic manne -
quins of natives perpetually posed in the acts of tanning hides, preparing pemmican, and gathering around a tipi in order to stage an idealized scene of Plains aboriginal culture frozen in a state of imagined purity. Despite its reiteration of well - wo museological motifs, what renders
this installation striking is its emplacement of plastic mannequins in conjunction with taxidermically preserved animal specimens, the latter occupying prominent positions rather than being subordinated to the status of habitat accessory. In an exemplary vignette, a native woman adoed in beaded regalia is positioned in a stiff stance gazing forward with a blank stare. Situated directly in front is a large taxidermically preserved wolf, head cocked upward and teeth bared as if
on the verge of emitting a howl. A small mirror is positioned behind the woman’s head, allowing spectators to admire the handiwork on the back of her costume while a brief text panel explains: Ladies’ Dance Outfit: Eagle Motif.
Subjects :
1. Indians of North America—Museums.
2. Indians of North America—Material culture—Exhibitions.
3. Indians of North America—Antiquities—Exhibitions.
4. Museum techniques—North America.
5. Taxidermy—North America.
Contents : Reading Banff Park Museum - Celluloid Salvage - Salvaging Sound at Last Sight - Repatriation’ s Remainders.
In the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum, a small exhibition space located in the Rocky Mountain tourist town of Banff, Alberta, a ubiquitous fantasy of aboriginal authenticity is materialized once again in the form of the dioramic mise - en - scene. A series of tableaux utilize plastic manne -
quins of natives perpetually posed in the acts of tanning hides, preparing pemmican, and gathering around a tipi in order to stage an idealized scene of Plains aboriginal culture frozen in a state of imagined purity. Despite its reiteration of well - wo museological motifs, what renders
this installation striking is its emplacement of plastic mannequins in conjunction with taxidermically preserved animal specimens, the latter occupying prominent positions rather than being subordinated to the status of habitat accessory. In an exemplary vignette, a native woman adoed in beaded regalia is positioned in a stiff stance gazing forward with a blank stare. Situated directly in front is a large taxidermically preserved wolf, head cocked upward and teeth bared as if
on the verge of emitting a howl. A small mirror is positioned behind the woman’s head, allowing spectators to admire the handiwork on the back of her costume while a brief text panel explains: Ladies’ Dance Outfit: Eagle Motif.