BIRD BUG BEAST

Art League Houston is delighted to present Indigenous Genius, a selection of artistic and scientific artifacts from the private collection of pioneering Ohio-based collector R.W. Northcutt, that chronicles the obscure yet poetic life of three particular wood-working animals the beaver, the woodpecker and the termite…

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
Indigenous Genius; The R.W. Northcutt Collection
July 15, 2011 – August 26, 2011
MAIN GALLERY
Opening reception July 15, 2011 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Art League Houston is delighted to present Indigenous Genius, a selection of artistic and scientific artifacts from the private collection of pioneering Ohio-based collector R.W. Northcutt, that chronicles the obscure yet poetic life of three particular wood-working animals the beaver, the woodpecker and the termite and explores the deep-rooted connections between animal and human methodologies. These works from ancient and contemporary periods, ranging from the late 19 century to near present times, retrace the fascinating yet often overlooked history of Animaliana.

Indigenous Genius celebrates the remarkable diversity and extraordinary accomplishments of animal builders, as well as the continuity of their rich cultural traditions. The objects in this collection explore themes of building and manufacture, and highlight the incredible similarities found between animal and human wood-working construction techniques.

Transforming the gallery into a small scale version of a natural history museum, Indigenous Genius provides the viewer with an eclectic range of rare and significant artifacts that not only references the intertwining zoological and ethnological themes within social history, philosophy, labor movements, construction and social revolution, but also preserves and celebrates the exceptionally brilliant and resilient engineering skills of the natural world. More about the exhibition can be found at the Art League Houston.

 

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