Ishi at the California Historical Society
Aug 20–Oct 4 & Nov 23-Jan 3, 2015–2016 California Historical Society, San Francisco, “Lopa Pikta–Rope Picture”, Façade Installation about California Indian Ishi, (35 minutes TRT) Collaboration with the Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology.
Lopa Pikta or Rope Picture is a video installation displayed at the California Historical Society as part of a projected light series during the year long commemoration of the 1915 World's Fair. Through the work of five light-based artists, each projecting an after-dark artwork in the CHS gallery's front and side windows, Engineers of Illumination brings to life the innovations of the 1915 Fair with modern technology.
Lopa Pikta looks at the subject of a man known as "Ishi", the last surviving member of the Yahi Indian tribe. In August 1911, Ishi wandered into the corral of an Oroville slaughterhouse and discovered a new world. Artist Ben Wood became fascinated by the story of Ishi and his appearance at the 1915 Fair. He was invited to work with the archive of this extraordinary man at the Hearst Museum at UC Berkeley. The photographs, audio recordings, and other primary source documents provide the raw material for this artwork.
The video was presented from August 20 - October 3rd and November 23rd 2015 - January 3rd 2016.
Ishi, last of his tribe, bridges 2 worlds in film every night, Carl Nolte
I was honoured to have a second article written by long time San Francisco Chronicle reporter Carl Nolte about the installation.