The Assimilation Of Culture At California State Art Exhibit | Alternative Fruit

Jacob Meders - California State University, Chico. (Contributed)

Mechoopda Tribe member Jacob Meders proudly exhibits his two installations that explore his feelings around cultural assimilation. As a genetic descendant of an authentic Indian Tribe from Chico Rancheria, and an American citizen in the modern age, his unique binocular vision is helping those around him to understand the appropriation of the Native American story by Western colonists and the eventual overthrow of authority throughout the country.


The first exhibit of Mǝǝmento can be found at the Janet Turner Print Museum in Chico. Hand-in-hand with fellow artist Aksum Belle, Jacob Meders combined printmaking, installation structures and interventions on social conformity. Highlighting not only the issues but the solutions to them, from the perspectives of several distinct artists, the pair establish a tangible and thought provoking array of experiences.


Split into Before and Afterwards, Mǝǝmento explains the story of appropriation and assimilation of culture through the medium of art. Before is made up of 34 individual pieces from the museum's archive. Gathering an array of perspective by drawing on Native American and Western artists, the dualistic perspective on the ancient cultures can be fully appreciated. Perhaps by comparing the two idea sets we can understand what led one thing to lead to another. Then head on over to the Jacki Headley University Art Gallery for the second half.


The exhibition named Afterwards is the second half of this double sided page. Meders has his own installation on site, which boasts a responsive element. With social engagement activities involving handing out various newspaper headlines, a huge hanging print, a woven basket made of old computer cables, and a far reaching graphic vinyl, visitors will be completely immersed in the feel of what the artist wants to portray.

​With honesty and the over-sized nature of the items, Meders perhaps really wants to drive home what many people simply don't want to look at. Could it be though, that only when we actually look at the things that make us uncomfortable can we learn to move on and up?

via Red Bluff Daily News