Listening to St. Louis—Counterpublic Art Triennial 2023

Key words: cultural history, Indigenous, Black lives, earthworks, St. Louis, public art, listening, healing, triennial, restoration, reparation, holistic engagement, commemoration, rematriation, contemporary art, creative intervention, podcast


Today, we take you to St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States of America. Home of the Gateway Arch, an Emblem of Manifest Destiny, at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Emblem of Manifest Destiny. St. Louis is nicknamed “‘Mound City”’ because of the number of earthworks built by Indigenous peoples there, before the westward expansion of colonizers conspired to flatten them. Where caves beneath the city sheltered freedom seekers traversing the Underground Railroad in the mid-1800s. Where, from 1959 to 1972—in the span of less than 20 years—residents of the historically Black neighborhoods Mill Creek Valley and Pruitt-Igoe Homes were displaced in the name of urban development and public safety. 

Where, in 2014, the Black Lives Matter movement coalesced. Nearly a decade later, in the year 2023, current events reveal that in this city and this state, the sanctity of civil and human rights remains tenuous on every level. 

What role can a public art triennial play in such a troubled context? 

A microcosm of the disruptive forces at play in cities across the United States today, St. Louis offers fertile ground for creative interventions that are healing—restorative in nature.

The civic exhibition Counterpublic takes on the challenge. To prepare for the 2023 event, the triennial’s home team committed to a year of listening sessions with a range of public constituents. A report integrated into the exhibition catalogue outlines local interest in holistic engagement with public memory, commemoration, and acknowledgement; the rematriation of Indigenous land; and reparative futures. In response, for three months, thirty projects animate the urban landscape along six miles of Jefferson Avenue. 

In this episode, we follow that throughway from south to north to share healing elixirs healing we discover at the heart of seven Counterpublic projects along the way. Listen to the ways they honor and amplify strength, beauty, and hope at the core of reemergent cultural histories in St Louis.

Story: Cathy Byrd
Sound Design: Anamnesis Audio
Special Audio courtesy Nokosee Fields, X, Raven Chacon, Stefani Jemison, Griot Museum of African American History, Torkwase Dyson, Mendi and Keith Obadike, SlowDrag audio "Joy and Everything," remixed by K Kudda, and Counterpublic, Mood Unit by  by Blue Dot Sessions

Fresh Art International

Listening to St. Louis—Counterpublic Art Triennial 2023

We talked to Denver Foote, candidate for Des Moines Mayor, and Bridget Botkin, candidate for Des Moines City Council (Ward 2), about why they're running for office, their vision of what a good local government can do, and how normal they both are.

Denver's campaign website: https://www.denverfordsm.com

Bridget's campaign website: https://www.bridget4dsm.com

Closing music by Bigby Woods (https://bigbywoods.bandcamp.com) - Iowa bands, please send us your music: https://forms.gle/zNkBXmRdWyBMpsKP7

Call us at (319) 849-8733!

Support the podcast at https://patreon.com/rockhardcaucus

https://rockhardcauc.us

Rock Hard Caucus

116 - Council Business with Denver Foote and Bridget Botkin (7/24/2023)

In this episode of Museums and Chill, we welcome Sigidimnak’ Noxs Ts’aawit, Dr. Amy Parent and Barbara Fillion to talk about the rematriation of the House of Ni’isjoohl memorial pole.The House of Ni’isjoohl memorial pole makes its way home from Scotland as the first totem pole rematriated from the United Kingdom.

The rematriation of the pole is the result of a year-long discussion and close collaboration between the Nisg̱a’a Nation and the National Museum of Scotland.

The term “rematriation” reframes the concept of “repatriation” by grounding the process of recovering belongings in Indigenous law — and is more closely in alignment with Nisg̱a’a matrilineal society.Witness history unfold as this memorial pole returns home, marking a pivotal moment in museum repatriation.

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed by our podcast’s guests are their own and do not reflect the opinions or views of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and its bodies and entities. The content provided in this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. ICOM and its bodies and entities do not endorse or take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed by guests during the podcast. Listeners are encouraged to conduct their own research and seek professional advice when making decisions based on the information discussed in this podcast.

Rematriation Of Memorial Totem Pole

We are a global organisation of museums and museum professionals committed to the promotion and protection of cultural heritage.

Fresh Art International with curator Cathy Byrd features Conversations About Creativity with Joan Jonas, Jason Moran, Irene Hofmann, William Pope.L, Theaster Gates, Tania Bruguera, Stephen Vitiello, Camille Norment, Franklin Sirmans, Cheryl Pope, Lynda Benglis, Jillian Mayer, Sylvie Fortin, Andrea Bowers, Remy Jungerman, Louis Grachos, and more.

Iowa-based news, politics, and culture podcast. Founded in August 2019 by Justin, Natalie, Evan, and Chuck. Stella joined later.
https://rockhardcauc.us

New tracks tagged #rematriation