Burden Basket 1870 - 1880

Editor: Here we have the 'Burden Basket,' created by a Pomo artist sometime between 1870 and 1880. It's currently housed at The Art Institute of Chicago and is a fibre-art piece made using weaving techniques. It has this wonderful, warm earthy palette and a pleasing geometric design. How would you interpret this work, considering its cultural context? Curator: Considering its date, the 'Burden Basket' prompts us to think about the complex historical moment it occupies for the Pomo people. The late 19th century was a period of immense upheaval and forced assimilation as the United States government policies significantly impacted native populations. What story does its very existence in a museum setting tell you? Editor: It suggests a complicated journey, perhaps one where this functional object transitioned into something considered art. But was it always considered utilitarian, or was there an artistic intention behind its creation as well? Curator: It is likely both practical and artistic, and likely has embedded symbolic or narrative qualities specific to the community from which it comes. Understanding that historical context of its making helps us unpack assumptions about categories like "art" versus "craft." How do you think seeing an object like this, out of its original context, changes our understanding of Pomo culture? Editor: I imagine it could risk romanticizing or misrepresenting their way of life. Without understanding the rituals or everyday uses for the basket, we might miss a significant part of its meaning. Curator: Exactly. Its display is inseparable from the socio-political context that displaced and dispossessed its makers. Appreciating Indigenous art involves acknowledging that history and supporting contemporary Indigenous communities and artists. Editor: That's given me a lot to consider, how art can carry history. I’ll be mindful about where this object comes from. Thanks for shedding some light on that.