Artist, writer, and performer Ty Defoe tells a story to kids and families at The Met
On a recent Sunday in the American art wing, you could hear the notes of a water flute rise above visitor chatter. Had you followed the melody, you would have stumbled upon artist Ty Defoe, a whir of color and motion amongst the still sculptures. When Ty performed, he told stories, played music, and amazed the gathering of kids and families with a hoop dance. Watch the latest #MetKids video to see how he moves hoops to create stars, trees, and even a spirit being called a Thunderbird.
Francesca, 10, and Cyrus, 7, listen as artist Ty Defoe describes how his art is connected to his cultures and identities
The video follows kid reporters Francesca and Cyrus as they ask Ty about his work. No matter what form it takes, his art is rooted in deep family, community, and cultural traditions. From the plant designs on his regalia (his special clothing) to the colors of the hoops in his dance performance, his art tells stories about where he's from.
With spinning hoops, Ty sets his stories into motion
Ty grew up in Northern Wisconsin, which is part of the homelands of the Anishinaabe people (pronounced Ah-ni-shi-NAAH-bay.) The Anishinaabe are a group of Native and Indigenous nations, including the Ojibwe (O-JEEB-way).
Ty is Ojibwe and Oneida (Oh-NAHY-duh). The Oneida are another Indigenous nation whose homelands are in Central New York. Growing up, Ty learned a lot of traditions from his parents and their communities. In the video, you'll see all the ways that story and dance have been a part of Ty's life. (He got his first instrument, a tiny shaker, before he could walk!)
When he introduces himself, Ty also mentions his Ojibwe clan, Eagle. Like extended family, you're related to your clan, even if you don't live in the same place.
Shoulder bag (missing strap). Possibly made in Ontario, Canada, Michigan, United States, or Wisconsin, United States, ca. 1800. Anishinaabe, possibly Mississauga Ojibwa. Native tanned leather, porcupine quills, dye, glass beads, silk ribbon, metal cones, and deer hair. 12 x 9 in. (30.5 x 22.9 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The Charles and Valerie Diker Collection of Native American Art, promised Gift of Charles and Valerie Diker (L.2018.35.6)
Thousands of miles from Wisconsin, Ty found a shoulder bag at The Met that reminds him of home. You can see a picture of it above. It was made by an Anishinaabe artist who lived around the Great Lakes region. Francesca and Cyrus were curious to learn more about why the embroidered designs on the velvety deerskin felt familiar to Ty.
Although these designs may look like beautiful decorations, they actually hold meaning and power beyond what the eye can see. Do you notice the orange and blue Thunderbird in the center that spreads its mighty wings? In the video, you'll find out more about the Thunderbird and why people tell its story today.
Francesca points to the colorful quillwork on the Anishinaabe shoulder bag. In Ty's home community, people pluck, fold, and stitch porcupine quills into designs called quillwork
These stories, just like the regalia Ty wears to dance, have been in his family for generations. ''People tell their aunties, their cousins, their grandchildren stories,'' Ty says. ''These symbols ripple out. So, everything has a meaning.''
This shoulder bag, and the many forms of Ty's stories, show how artworks in the Museum ''ripple out,'' or stay connected, to other places. For some people, these places may seem new or far away and require a bit of a journey to get there. For others, these places might lie within, where memories collect or ideas grow, a mere heartbeat away.
The Anishinaabe shoulder bag is part of a bigger show of Native and Indigenous artwork in The Met's American art wing
Curious to see more Native and Indigenous art at The Met? Or want to learn more about how Indigenous peoples first lived here and their lasting connections to these lands? Visit the show Art of Native America in gallery 746 in the American Wing.
Visit #MetKids, a digital feature made for, with, and by kids! Discover fun facts about works of art, hop in our time machine, watch behind-the-scenes videos, and get ideas for your own creative projects.
