A major new exhibition entitled Wampum: Stories from the Shells of Native America will be one of the major features at The Box when it opens again on May 18.
The exhibition is centred on the creation of a newly crafted wampum belt featuring over 5,000 hand-crafted wampum beads and measuring five feet by long by 10 inches wide. It will appear alongside rarely seen historic wampum belts on loan from the British Museum and Saffron Walden Museum.
It is the first-ever wampum exhibition to be staged in the UK and forms a key part of the Mayflower 400 commemorations involving the UK, USA, Netherlands and Wampanoag Nation.
The key pieces of wampum history, together with contemporary images and films, will be brought together for the first time and told entirely by authentic voices of the Wampanoag Nation who met the passengers of the Mayflower and ensured their survival.
Wampum belts tell stories of communities and culture and embody the Wampanoag’s connection to the sea as well as to life itself. Whether a spoil of war, an ornament, a souvenir or a gift, each shell is imbued with memory and meaning.
The extraordinary new wampum belt forms the centrepiece of the exhibition at The Box. The belt has been created by over 100 Wampanoag craftspeople of different ages and backgrounds and it is an authentic replication of the wampum belts that were made during the 1600s.
The design has been inspired by tribal elders from the Wampanoag community to reflect their creation story and respect for the earth and its preservation.
The belt depicts the people of all the Wampanoag villages and clans, hand-in-hand, engaging in a round dance.
The creation of the belt has emerged from a special partnership between The Box and members of the Wampanoag, notably SmokeSygnals, plus research at the British Museum. The exhibition promotes the significant renewal of this art form and will take visitors into the world of the Wampanoag who have lived in Massachusetts for 12,000 years and remain on their ancestral lands today.
The exhibition includes a 55-minute documentary that is significant to the Wampanoag. Exclusively shown at The Box, it shows how they have reclaimed their ancestral language after generations of suppression. Through these authentic voices, Wampum: Stories from the Shells of Native America explores the Wampanoag’s cultural history and life in America today, the impact of the past on its people, and their creative aspirations for the future.
Jo Loosemore, co-curator of the exhibition said:
“400 years ago, England took its culture to Native America. 400 years on, Native America is bringing its culture here. We are honoured to be able to welcome the Wampanoag people and the wampum that is so special to them to The Box. It’s been a privilege to work alongside Wampanoag artists and educators as part of this exhibition.”
Louisa Blight, collections manager at The Box said:
“Creating the new wampum belt has been a truly collaborative project that demonstrates the strength of the Wampanoag community and connects the UK and USA in so many ways.
“It’s a hugely important element of the Mayflower 400 programme and it was vital to us right from the start that we made a step-change from any previous commemorations that have taken place. Recognising the Wampanoag’s involvement is critical in helping everyone understand the history and legacy of the Mayflower, and in helping us to shape an ongoing relationship that stretches across the Atlantic.”
The exhibition is at The Box from May 18 until July 11. Following the exhibition at The Box, it will travel to the Guildhall Art Gallery, London from July 23 to September 5.
For more information and to book a visit go to www.theboxplymouth.com
