ALAN MICHELSON: WOLF NATION at the Whitney Museum

This exhibition features the 2018 video Wolf Nation by Alan Michelson (Mohawk, b. 1953). Using webcam footage of red wolves, a critically endangered indigenous species, Michelson creates a poetic meditation that links their eradication with that of the once-locally situated Munsees, known as the Wolf tribe of the Lenape, from their territory. The video’s purple color and wide format refer to the Native tradition of wampum belts, woven sashes of purple and white beads that carry solemn messages, and were used in the negotiation of treaties. The haunting soundtrack is composed by White Mountain Apache musician and composer Laura Ortman, whose work is appearing in the 2019 Whitney Biennial. The work’s simultaneous evocation of place, culture, and animal affirms an indigenous worldview, and cross-species solidarity. Wolf Nation is entering the Whitney’s collection.