An internationally known photographer and filmmaker who has won several awards for his films about American-Indian identity and representation will be conducting workshops and speaking about his work beginning today and continuing through Thursday.
Victor Masayesva Jr. is a Hopi filmmaker and photographer who has received critical acclaim for his work to combat stereotypes often portrayed in main stream media and society.
“We just think it’s a great opportunity to have someone who represents Native American thought . . . to come and work on this business of changing notions of what Native American identity is,” said Gabriel Melendez, chairman of the American Studies Department, which is cosponsoring Masayesva’s visit to UNM. “He is a very accomplished filmmaker.”
The Hopi filmmaker will be the host for the workshop “‘Nine Years Later:’ Native American Portrayals in Film,” from 2-4:30 p.m. today in the Humanities Building, Rm. 319.
In the workshop, Masayesva will discuss his own work as well as show a number of videos representing nativity, perceptiveness, resignation and optimism of Native-American filmmakers.
On Wednesday, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Dane Smith Hall, Rm. 125, Masayesva will screen his 1992 film, “Imagining Indians.”
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The 30-minute film was broadcast nationally on PBS and produced through the efforts of an all-Native American crew visiting tribal communities in five states and in the Amazon. The film portrays native people discussing their sense of betrayal and misrepresentation by mainstream media and history.
He will also the lecture “Photography, Virtual Reality and Accountability in Native Communities,” Thursday at a time and location that is to be announced.
Masayesva was born in 1951 and attended Princeton University and pursued a graduate education in English and photography at the University of Arizona.
He has earned fellowships from the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Southwest Association on Indian Affairs.
“He’s a very talented and committed individual,” said Ira Jaffe, chairman of the UNM Media Arts Department. “Committed to the arts and in a way, representing and transforming Native Americans in popular imagery.”
The photographer and filmmaker comes to UNM as a visiting artist scholar, Melendez said. He added that he would have loved for Masayesva to teach a class this semester, but because of his busy schedule, that was not possible. So, he added, his department arranged for Masayesva to conduct the series of workshops, lectures and screenings.
Masayesva has been a guest artist and artist-in-residence at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Princeton University and at the Yellowstone Summer Film/Video Institute at Montana State University.
His films have appeared in several festivals at several major cities including New York, San Francisco, Berlin and the Hague.
Jaffe said it is important for students on campus to be exposed to presentations by moving image artists — especially ones as talented Masayesva.
“He’s an inspiration to anyone who makes films from an artist’s position,” he said.
Each lecture, workshop and screening is free and open to the public.
