Sandra Hale Schulman
Special to ICT
The latest: Costner costumes on display, Gallup hosts film and media, Coachella Valley seen and heard
DESIGN: Kevin Costner’s clothing show-and-tell at Autry
In a sold-out special event in April, the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles hosted actor/filmmaker/director Kevin Costner to talk about the costumes of his ambitious four-part movie “Horizon.” He brought along lead designer Lisa Lovaas and several of the costume makers who sat in the audience.
Several of the outfits were on display, including the vintage buckskin with beading and fringe worn by Owen Crow Shoe, who portrays Pionsenay, a fierce warrior who leads a deadly attack on the settlement of the town of Horizon. He soon splits from his tribe over their disagreements about how to deal with the invading settlers.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Shoe said, “Originally, he’s a peaceful warrior, and he doesn’t take too well to violence. He wants to keep the violence away as much as he can, and he doesn’t want to fight if he doesn’t have to. But his perspective starts to change as the settlers start making their way over, and he is starting to notice that the world around him is changing.”
Shoe got his start acting as a stunt rider in “The Revenant,” and grew up watching Costner’s Oscar-winning “Dances With Wolves.” Shoe is from the Piikani Nation and Blood Tribe of the Blackfoot Confederacy, he recalls the great pride of the Lakota Nation surrounding “Dances with Wolves.”
“If Kevin Costner calls, you’re going to do it,” he said. “I know the homework that he does and puts into making a Native American portrayal as accurate as he can. Because looking at ‘Dances with Wolves,’ that’s a huge thing for the Lakota people. They’re really proud of that because they’re speaking accurate and fluent Lakota in the film.”
Shoe notes that they had a historical advisor, Dr. David Bearshield. “Dr. Bearshield worked closely with Kevin on making sure that everything was positive and that there wasn’t going to be any bad stereotypes. The diligence that Dr. Bearshield has is if there’s something going wrong, he won’t take no for an answer. He’ll make sure that the representation is spot on.”
At the Autry talk, Costner said, “For someone who hates getting dressed up, it’s ironic I became a period drama actor who is in charge of dressing up hundreds of other actors. The costumes are majorly important to the story.”
FILM: Gathering in Gallup
The Third Annual Gallup Film & Media Expo is set for next week to bring together filmmakers, industry professionals, and the surrounding community for a free event celebrating the creative talents of Gallup and surrounding areas.
Presented by the Gallup Film Committee in partnership with Native Professional Advancement Center, there will be film screenings, panel discussions, a demonstration set, and vendor booths.
Gallup is historical, on Route 66, has dozens of murals, and hosts an annual Intertribal Ceremonial Parade, art show, and summer rodeo.
This annual expo highlights Gallup’s emerging film industry, supporting local and Indigenous filmmakers by providing resources, industry connections, and inspiration for future storytellers. Attendees will gain insight into film careers, learn from professionals, and witness the power of Indigenous storytelling on screen. Date is Wednesday, April 30, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. MST at 825 Outlaw Road, Church Rock, NM 87301.
ART: Murals and music in Coachella
The last two weekends in the Coachella Valley, home to the Cahuilla Tribe, exploded with art, sounds and even beauty products from Indigenous creators.
With Desert X on view for another month with art installations from Cannupa Hanska Lugers G.H.O.S.T. Ride and Ronald Rael’s robot made Adobe, there was an explosion of new murals in Desert Hot Springs from Known Gallery as part of Revitalize.
Bringing in big names in the art world, the curator Casey Zoltan commissioned 13 new murals on the low-slung, one-story buildings that line the dusty streets of the town known mostly for its numerous hot spring resorts and cannabis warehouses.
Murals feature everything from jagged abstract mountain views from Jaque Fragua, Jemez Pueblo, to peace themes from global art star Shepard Fairey, who has worked extensively with Indigenous tribes and images. Fairey and Fragua both spun some tunes as guest DJs at the opening party.
At the mammoth Coachella festival, Indigenous beauty was represented by N8iv Beauty and brand creator Ruth Ann Thorn, the first such brand to have a booth at the festival.
Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute $5 or $10 today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICT’s free newsletter.