On Oct. 26, the O’Kane Gallery debuted “Dispatches from the Invisible World” by Keli Mashburn. Mashburn gave a talk about her artwork, and two new experimental short films are on display in the gallery through Dec. 14.
The two films, “Distant” and “At Roanhouse Camp,” debuted in October at the 24th annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival in Canada. The seven black and white photographs were previously shown at the Venice Biennale in Italy.
Mashburn was 13 when she first started taking photographs with a film camera. When she was handed the film camera, she had to learn how to use it.
“Once I started with photography, I never looked back,” Mashburn said.
Mashburn went to the Institute of American Indian Arts in New Mexico. While there, she gained a sense of community and understanding of the importance of her heritage. Now, her work is influenced by her Osage heritage.
Mashburn makes it a point to never out right show items that can be related to Native American culture, such as referencing the ongoing genocide of Natives. Instead, she follows Osage teachings to not dwell in the past but to move forward.
Mashburn wants her work to be relatable to everyone, which is the reason her works revolve around nature.
“We all share the sky, ocean, and grass,” Mashburn said.
Mashburn did point out that Natives may see something else in her artwork based on their own personal teachings and background. She points out that the logic that comes from the observation of the natural world would be easier for Natives to understand and identify.
Kristen Barnett was one of the students at the gallery opening. She felt like she “was given a new perspective on Native American culture.”
“The idea of destruction then having to start anew is something that we all go through,” Barnett said.
“Being able to see a way through it [the destruction] and not relive the past was very inspiring.”
Mark Cervenka, director of the O’Kane Gallery, makes sure that the artwork that goes on display in the gallery can cause a deep response within the viewer. According to Cervenka, Mashburn’s works does cause that deep response.
Mashburn’s artwork “is a reflection of our experience and pondering things,” Cervenka said.
Mashburn “being Osage adds another layer to the work and enables us to see part of our American landscape and, at the same time, to see how we are all connected.”
