Celebration-Inspiration: Native American style

I don't know about you, but I missed the opening celebration of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC (the Museum also has locations in New York City and southern Maryland). Now that crowds have thinned, I decided to visit and I can report back that the Museum is truly inspirational on many levels.

Native American art/design is centered on the artist's experience of nature, it's rich colors, intricate patterns, with a sincere sprituality and reverence for all of creation. The museum expertly mirrors these values with open areas for gathering and performance, a treasure trove of both ancient and current Native artwork and exhibits that introduce us to modern native cultures in some innovative ways.

The museum itself is a wondrous sight to behold. Its sinuous curves and warm stone exterior announce that this museum is going to be different from the others on the Mall. And it is. It also begins to right some of the wrongs perpetuated over centuries towards Native American peoples. The location itself is a sort of cosmic joke. The last remaining spot on the Mall was offered; the joke is that it's also the closest location on the Mall to the US Capitol Building.

Since most of us missed the opening celebration itself, the museum has a Grand Opening Celebration web page that displays videos of the building and links to webcasts of the opening celebrations and the text of presentations. I hope you'll be as moved as I was, or at least moved to visit the real Museum when you are next visiting Washintgon, DC.