The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, announces a new exhibition, “Homelands: Connecting to Mounds Through Native Art,” opening to the public on January 25, 2025. The project sets a new standard for collaborative exhibition practices at the McClung and represents the museum’s most significant renovation in more than 20 years.
“‘Homelands’ is a defining moment for the McClung Museum. It’s the largest project we’ve undertaken in over two decades, but its impact goes far beyond its scale,” said Claudio Gómez, Jefferson Chapman Executive Director of the museum. “This exhibition has challenged us to rethink how we collaborate, bringing in new perspectives and allowing us to honor Native voices in ways that are both respectful and forward-thinking.”
“Homelands” showcases contemporary art by 17 Native artists to emphasize the enduring ties between Native Nations and Knox County. As a result of the exhibition, the museum has acquired 22 new works for its permanent collection.
Museum visitors will see interpretive text panels, paintings, ceramics, textiles and other media displayed in the renovated gallery space. Many of these works were created specifically for this project by notable artists, including Johnnie Diacon, Cherokee National Treasure Jane Osti and many others. Each artist’s work is accompanied by a direct quote about their piece, giving visitors insight into the personal and cultural significance behind the art.
“By introducing new art, new voices and new ideas, ‘Homelands’ sets the stage for a more inclusive and dynamic future for the museum, one that fosters deeper connections and a richer understanding of the communities we serve,” Gómez said.
Working Closely With Tribal Governments
Throughout five years of planning and collaboration, Native voices have been central to shaping the exhibition. The McClung Museum worked closely with Tribal governments, who selected co-curators from four Native Nations with Ancestral ties to Knox County — Cherokee Nation, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Muscogee (Creek) Nation — to guide the exhibition’s development. “Homelands” provides a platform for Native artists and co-curators to speak directly to the museum’s audience, sharing Indigenous perspectives on placemaking and the cultural and spiritual significance of Native American mounds.
The exhibition also aims to raise awareness of the importance of Indigenous mounds across the Eastern United States. UT sits on the Ancestral homelands of eleven Federally Recognized Tribes. Mounds, like the one located on the university’s campus and thousands of others across the region, are still important aspects of contemporary Indigenous lifeways. Through “Homelands,” the museum hopes to spark ongoing conversations about the stewardship of sacred spaces and the importance of Indigenous perspectives in conservation efforts.
Lisa King, associate professor of English, approached the museum in 2019 with the idea of creating an exhibition about the Mound located on UT’s campus. Since then, she has worked with the museum as a co-curator of the exhibition. Representing the museum, the project has been led by Cat Shteynberg, assistant director and curator of exhibitions, and Sadie Counts, curator of indigenous collections and assistant curator of exhibitions. Gómez, as well as associate professor of anthropology Kandi Hollenbach and director of repatriation Ellen Lofaro, have provided support and guidance throughout the process.
Scheduled to run through December 2027, “Homelands” will include educational programming such as talks by the featured artists, lectures by Native scholars, family-oriented activities and more. After the exhibition opens, the McClung Museum will launch a corresponding website that includes an interactive virtual tour, allowing audiences around the world to explore “Homelands.” Through the site, visitors will be able to view detailed images of the artwork, learn more about the artists and co-curators and stay up to date on related programming and events.
“Homelands: Connecting to Mounds Through Native Art” is made possible by lead support from the Henry Luce Foundation and the Terra Foundation for American Art. Additional support is provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority, Phil Lawson, the UT Office of the Provost and the UT Division of Access and Engagement.
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CONTACT:
Stacy Estep (865-974-8304, sestep3@utk.edu)
Emily Reichard (865-974-2144, ereichar@utk.edu)