Drawn into Marc Straus Gallery by the soft pink glow of a neon moon, visitors to Seneca Nation citizen Marie Watt’s exhibition are surrounded by the material richness of light glittering off metal cones and satin blanket edges. Embroidered blanket segments referring to Native American gifting practices and small, conical shapes sewn to garments worn for dance are Watt’s signature materials, harnessed to recall Indigenous histories and traditions. Likewise, the show’s title, ‘Thirteen Moons,’ refers to the thirteen months of the Haudenosaunee calendar, which are aligned with events in the natural world and appear in the neon text. ‘Sugar Maple Moon’ refers to the spring month when maple trees should be tapped, while corn moon, green bean moon, resting moon and others point to sources of nourishment or repose in a culturally specific interrelation of time and nature. (On view in Tribeca through Dec 20th).
