For centuries, Hmong people have experienced statelessness and displacement, making their connection to land precarious and precious. That created an ability to cultivate and bring vitality to the places they inhabit – a connection that underpins a new art exhibit in Chaska.
The exhibit at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is called “Verdant Remedies: Unearthing Hmong Art and Nature.” It honors this story of nature, home and connection by exploring cultural practices, plants, food and art as expression and medicine. As the curators say, art heals.
It runs through Sept. 21 in the arboretum’s Reedy Gallery.
The dozen artists in the group show are part of the first and second generation raised by Hmong refugees who fled the “secret war” in Laos and largely landed in Minnesota and Wisconsin 50 years ago.
Take the story of Kao Lee Thao, who crossed the Mekong River while still in her mother’s womb. Her family escaped the jungles of Laos with $5 to begin a new life in Minnesota. Now her bright and otherworldly acrylics picture rivers and travels as a source of freedom, and explore the folktales passed down through generations. Her ornate masks are a must-see.
Verdant Remedies combines traditional and contemporary Hmong art. Examples include cross-stitch on plastic by Third Daughter, Restless Daughter; ceramics by Mai Lee; and traditional textiles combined with woodblock prints that literally stitch together identity, personal history and cultural memory by Pa Na Lor. Muralist Xee Reiter uses comic-book colors to show modern and traditional food and its role in the family.
Dej Txiaj Nstim, Koua Mai Yang’s installation is inspired by a creation story, with puffy, embroidered creations that when pressed, produce differing audio slivers of that story.
This is just a start to the bright, inspiring work that’s part of this show.
The art exhibition was co-curated by artist and designer Christina Vang and arboretum art curators Tina Chimuzu and Wendy DePaolis.
Tickets are included with general admission. Sales of any art benefit both the artists and the arboretum.
Cost: Included with general daily admission, which is free for members and ages 15 and younger and $20-$25 for non-members ages 16 and older. Indigenous peoples receive waived general daily admission to the arboretum when making a reservation by calling 612-301-6775.
Editor’s note: Lynette Kalsnes is the arboretum’s public relations strategist and is an avid gardener. She loves all this rain – and is horrified by how much weeding she has to do.
Kalsnes’ column on happenings at the Arboretum will appear periodically on the Eden Prairie Local News website. Contact her at arbpr@umn.edu.
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