MYTH MAKERS T A W H F R
A myth is a story about how the world was created or why something is the way that it is. Myths are often exaggerated stories that become important to a culture, whether or not they are based in reality.
Every culture has its own myths.
ürough their artwork, Winslow Homer and Frederic Remington show us various myths about the United States and also develop stories about themselves. üat is why our exhibition is called Mythmakers.
Use this guide to help discover these stories (and some exciting animals) throughout the exhibition using close looking, creativity, and conversation.
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WHAT IS A Find an artwork in the exhibition STORY THAT and place yourself in the scene. YOU LIKE TO Tell a story about yourself TELL ABOUT interacting with the characters (animals or people) and the YOURSELF? setting (the forest or desert for Stories that example). It can either be a true you like to story or one that you make up tell about using your imagination. yourself communicate Artwork: something about you. What does
your story Artist: tell others about you?
EXAMPLE: “üis one time I rode a big horse, the horse got scared and ran. However, I managed to calm the horse down and get back home safely!”
4 5 Often animals Look at the images on these pages are characters and match them to the objects in myths, and in the galleries. When you þnd can symbolize an animal, make a movement or a sound inspired by the artwork (represent) to celebrate! What do you think diýerent about when you see this animal? ideas. üese (Find the corresponding artwork titles on page 17.) stories are often related to how the animals look or act.
For example, in some cultures, horses are seen as symbols of power and virtue (goodness).
6 7 While Winslow Homer and Frederic Remington were alive, the United States changed dramatically. In the 1800s, the size of what was considered the United States more than doubled and new states were created out of territories. Many white settlers believed the myth that the United States had a duty and a right to expand the frontier westward to spread their religious and political values. They felt like the land was not developed and was open for them to take.
DISTRICT OF ALASKA
KINGDOM OF HAWAI‘ I
(BECAME STATES IN 1959) 8 However, it was a myth that the land was empty, because Indigenous populations had been living there for thousands of years. Millions of Indigenous people were killed or forced to leave their homes and move to reservations. The rapid push West and South by white settlers also caused a war with Mexico. Today there are over 5 million Indigenous people living in the United States.
QUESTIONS TO GET YOU TALKING: What on the map is new to you? What do you notice about changing borders? How has the United States or the world changed during your lifetime?
United States as of 1904 Indigenous peoples’ homelands until 1861 Indigenous peoples’ reservations as of January 1, 1861 Indigenous peoples’ reservations remaining
Not to scale. We acknowledge that maps are complex and imperfect. Our goal with this map is to illustrate how the United States took more than 1.5 billion acres from Indigenous peoples with a focus on what was taken in the 19th century. Indigenous peoples still live throughout the United States. Our sources are listed in the back of this guide.
9 Choose an artwork with a person or animal in it. Look closely at the artwork for 3 to 5 minutes and think about what is happening in this scene. Write down 4 words to describe what you see and any moods or emotions this scene brings up.
Artwork:
Artist:
Word List: WORD EXAMPLES: Freedom and joy.
10 Using your word list, create a story about the animal or person in the artwork. Use your best dramatic voice to narrate the story.
Sentence: EXAMPLE: As Jonah ran forward, pulling his brother’s arm, he felt the freedom and joy of summer.
Images at left, left to right: Winslow Homer (United States, 1836-1910), Snap the Whip, 1872, oil on canvas, 26 x 36 inches. Collection of üe Butler Museum of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio. Museum Purchase, 1919/Bridgeman Images. Winslow Homer (United States, 1836-1910), ÿe Fisher Girl, 1894, oil on canvas, 28 1/4 x 28 1/4 inches. Mead Art Museum, Amherst College, Massachusetts. Gift of George D. Pratt (Class of 1893), P.1933.7. Frederic Remington (United States, 1861–1909), ÿe Broncho Buster, modeled 1895 (cast by 1906), bronze; 23 x 15 x 25 inches. Denver Art Museum. Gift of üe Roath Collection, 2013.91. Photography @ Denver Art Museum.
11 þe soldiers appear to be out-numbered + in a very exposed position. What will happen when night falls? - D Rawlings
Yellow as a zone of caution It is clear that they are surrounded. - R Burrows Hodges Lower contrast, softer brush strokes as we back out - S Appleton
Very dry, not much water- makes me thirsty - B Holding
If the landscape does not support the men and their horses, why are they there? - J Pahdopony
Scent of sun baked leather, horse odor and dusty earth - R Burrows Hodges
How desperate are these men? - D Rawlings
We the viewer are situation at the edge of the waterhole, drawing us into the action, testing our own composure… - M Kleberg
We asked our multi-vocal label writers to point out details and stories that they found important to this work.
12 What started as an heroic archetype becomes a sad historic commentary. - S Appleton
Natives are so small and washed out this painting is right in line with the Vanishing Red Man theory of 1900s-1930s, where non-native society actively believed Native Americans were dying oÿ and would become extinct - J Pictou
Look at how bored the horses are... - M Kleberg
What’s the source of this small water hole up high on the plains? - J Pahdopony
Interesting landscape, strange crater type location - B Holding
Almost a statement of “we already won the west” so the Native threat is diminished to nothing more than background noise. Total myth. - J Pictou
Frederic Remington (United States, 1861-1909), Fight for the Waterhole, 1903, oil on canvas, 38 1/2 x 51 1/2 x 2 1/8 inches. üe Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. üe Hogg Brothers Collection, gift of Miss Ima Hogg, 43.25/Bridgeman Images.
Please refer to the key on page 17 for more information about them.
13 (üis exercise and presentation was inspired by the artwork of Wendy Red Starr.) Now it is your turn to respond to an artwork! Observe and point out any special details that you notice when you look closely at this artwork.
14 Winslow Homer (United States, 1836-1910), Artists Sketching in the White Mountains, 1868, oil on panel, 97/16 × 1513/16 inches. Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Bequest of Charles Shipman Payson, 1988.55.4, Image courtesy of Meyersphoto.com © Trustees of the Portland Museum of Art, Maine.
What stories or myths are being told? What do you think was true to reality and what was made up? What do you still have questions about?
15 16 Winslow Homer Mythmakers: ÿe Art of Winslow Homer and Frederic (United States, 1836–1910) Remington has been organized by the Amon Carter An Unexpected Catch, 1890 Museum of American Art, Denver Art Museum, and watercolor on paper Portland Museum of Art, Maine. ýis exhibition 11 1/2 x 19 3/4 inches is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Council on the Arts and the Humanities; by the Bequest of Charles Shipman National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring Payson,1988.55.9 | cover/page 8 the human endeavor; and by the Wyeth Foundation for American Art. Frederic Remington (United States, 1861–1909) ýe national tour sponsorship is generously Moonlight, Wolf, circa. 1904 provided by Bank of America. oil on canvas 20 1/16 x 26 inches Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, ýe PMA would like to extend our appreciation and Massachusetts. Gift of the thanks to James and Susan Konkel for their belief members of the Phillips Academy and support of this exhibition. Board of Trustees on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Addison Gallery, 1956.2 | page 9 Individual Support: Kelley and Francis Boero Winslow Homer (United States, 1836–1910) Herbert and Adah Ginn Fox Hunt, 1893 Robert and Sarah Gould oil on canvas Jeþrey and Judith Kane 38 x 68 1/2 inches James and Susan Konkel Pennsylvania Academy of the Frank and Sharon Reilly Fine Arts, Philadelphia. Joseph E. Malcolm and Susan Rogers Temple Fund, 1894.4 page 9/back cover
Frederic Remington (United States, 1861–1909) Moose-Hunting—An Unexpected Any views, ÿndings, conclusions, or recommendations Shot, circa 1896 expressed in this exhibition, do not necessarily represent ink wash on paper those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. 21 7/8 x 29 7/8 inches Collection of Shelburne Museum, Foundation Support: Shelburne, Vermont. Bequest of Mr. William N. Beach, 1960-376.89 Lunder Foundation—ýe Peter and Paula Lunder Family page 9 Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust Frederic Remington (United States, 1861–1909) Ridden Down, 1905–1906 oil on canvas 30 1/4 x 51 1/4 inches Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas. Amon G. Corporate Support: Carter Collection, 1961.224 cover/page 8 McCandles & Coburn LLC
Map sources | pages 8/9: Media Sponsor: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior. (2016), Retrieved from https://www.bia.gov/sites/bia.gov/ÿles/ assets/bia/ots/webteam/pdf/idc1-028635.pdf
Saunt, C. (n.d.). Invasion of America: How the United In-Kind support provided by: States Took Over an Eighth of the World. Retrieved from 33 http://usg.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index. html?id=eb6ca76e008543a89349ff2517db47e6
Annotated Painting Contributors | pages 12/13:
Samantha Appleton, Maine, Juanita Pahdopony, photographer Oklahoma (Enrolled Comanche citizen with Reggie Burrows Hodges, Comanche Nation), retired Maine, painter educator/administrator Bonnie Holding, Doug Rawlings, Maine, Maine, Master Maine guide Co-founder of Veterans for Matt Kleberg, New York and Peace and retired educator/ Texas, artist and former administrator ranch-hand Jennifer Pictou, Maine Seven Congress Square, Portland, Maine 04101 (Mi’kmaq), historian and (207) 775-6148 owner of Dawnland Tours PortlandMuseum.org