PROVIDENCE, RI — In many cultures throughout the world, eagles flying above trees represent freedom and communication among groups of people. In a project/exhibition at The RISD Museum, called Eagles Speak, Cheyenne artist Hachivi Edgar Heap of Birds has been inspired to create an exhibition that embodies these ideas. Heap of Birds’ project is the tenth Art ConText residency, a collaboration between the Providence Public Library and The RISD Museum.



The project draws on the metaphor of eagles who fly from village to village spreading news among them. In this case, artists are the eagles spreading news to and from indigenous peoples around the world. More specifically in this case: South Africa, Rhode Island, and Oklahoma (with a stop in Cape Verdes.)



Heap of Birds, an Oklahoma-based artist, has invited two Rhode Island artists and another from Capetown South Africa to contribute to an exhibition and participate in a community project with the Providence Public Library. For the Museum exhibition Heap of Birds collaborated with respected indigenous artists Thembinkosi Goniwe from South Africa, Cynthia Ross-Meeks, Narragansett/Wampanoag, and Tall Oak Weeden, Mashantucket/Pequot/ Wampanoag.



In addition to the exhibition, Heap of Birds and six RISD students taught art classes to young people at the Fox Point Library. Teepees and drawings made by the young people will travel with the larger exhibition to South Africa. The RISD Students also visited a reservation in the southern part of the state to meet with an after school class on Native history taught by Dawn Dove at Chariho High School.