Getty Initiative Connects Art Historians with Indigenous Communities in the Amazon Basin
The Getty Foundation's 'Connecting Art Histories' initiative supported a multinational traveling research seminar focused on the Amazon Basin. This seminar brought together scholars from various disciplines, including art historians, archaeologists, anthropologists, and environmental scientists, to study Amazonian art and culture through an Indigenous-centered lens. Participants traveled to urban centers like Belém, Brazil, and remote villages in Ecuador and Colombia, including Sarayaku, Ecuador, home to a Kichwa Indigenous community. The program aimed to foster a more collaborative and inclusive approach to art history, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous perspectives that have historically been marginalized. Scholars engaged in hands-on workshops, learning traditional pottery techniques and natural dye production from local artisans, and participated in oral knowledge-sharing sessions with community leaders. The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between academic study and real-world experiences, en...
