"An unnamed artist is working with the Southwest Museum to try and bring attention their way. They are in danger of closing down due to the Autry National Center buying them out and putting all the artifacts in storage. 8 Native Soil chiefs are being sculpted and installed around Los Angeles before thanksgiving. They are made of dirt and if left to their own devices will deteriorate and become part of the earth again - a spiritual depiction of the journey of the Native Americans. - Cindy Jackson"
Here are some quotes from a recent protest by the Southwest Museum Coalition reported by CBS Los Angeles (click here):
After spending approximately $10.5 million of our tax money, the Autry is only giving taxpayers a one-day-a-week exhibit at the Southwest Museum,
said Nicole Possert, Southwest Museum Coalition spokesperson.
The one exhibit they have just reopened is great, but it’s small, and it’s only assessable to the public for six hours a week.
The Autry released a statement on the recent protest:
The multi-year conservation project required the Autry to repurpose the public galleries of the Southwest Museum into conservation labs and collections storage. As this effort draws to a close, one of the galleries recently opened to the public.
With the merger of the Autry with the Southwest Museum, our top priority has been to properly care for and maintain the collection after decades of neglect with the goal of making the collection accessible for research, exhibits, and programs in Los Angeles for decades to come.
