Edgar Heap of Birds facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edgar Heap of Birds
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Heap of Birds at the 2009
Americans for the Arts convention |
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| Born |
Hock E Aye Vi
November 22, 1954 Wichita, Kansas, United States
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| Nationality | Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes |
| Education | MFA Tyler School of Art, BFA University of Kansas, Royal College of Art |
| Known for | Painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, installation, conceptual |
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Notable work
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In Our Language, Wheel |
Edgar Heap of Birds (whose Cheyenne name is Hock E Aye Vi) is a famous artist. He creates many different kinds of art. This includes public art messages, large drawings, paintings, and big outdoor sculptures.
He is a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. He is also part of the Southern Cheyenne people.
Heap of Birds helps guide the MoMA PS1 art museum.
Contents
Growing Up and Learning
Where Edgar Heap of Birds Grew Up
Hachivi Edgar Heap of Birds was born on November 22, 1954. He was born in Wichita, Kansas. His father worked there in the airplane industry.
He went to East High School in Wichita. He finished school in 1972.
His Art Education Journey
After high school, Heap of Birds studied at Haskell Indian School. This school is in Lawrence, Kansas.
In 1976, he earned his first art degree. This was a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Kansas. Later, in 1979, he got his Master of Fine Arts degree. He earned this from Temple University's Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He also took classes in London, England. He studied at the Royal College of Art from 1976 to 1977.
Special Art Honors
Heap of Birds has received special honors. In 2008, he got an Honorary Doctors of Fine Arts degree. This was from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, Massachusetts.
In 2018, he received another honorary degree. This was from the California Institute of the Arts.
His Amazing Art Career
Teaching Art and Native American Studies
Edgar Heap of Birds has taught at many top universities. He was a visiting professor at Yale University. He also taught at the Rhode Island School of Design.
He even taught in South Africa. He taught at the Michaelis School of Fine Art. This school is part of the University of Cape Town.
At the University of Oklahoma, he teaches about Native American Studies. He used to teach Fine Arts there too.
Art That Tells a Story
Heap of Birds is famous for his "text-based conceptual art." This means his art uses words and ideas to make you think. One example is Dead Indian Stories. This artwork is at the Honolulu Museum of Art.
His art often looks like public signs. But it shares important messages. These messages are about the experiences of Native American people.
Building Minnesota: Honoring History
One of his special public art projects is Building Minnesota (1990). He placed forty large metal signs. These signs were along the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. The Walker Art Center asked him to create this piece.
The signs honored forty Dakota men. These men were executed after a conflict in 1862. This was a very sad event in American history. Heap of Birds' art helped people remember them. It became a place where people brought gifts. They wanted to honor the men who were executed.
Wheel: A Monumental Sculpture
Heap of Birds also created a huge outdoor sculpture. It is fifty feet tall and called "Wheel." This sculpture is a main entrance piece. You can see it at the Denver Art Museum.
The museum asked him to create this artwork. It is made of porcelain enamel on steel. The sculpture was inspired by the traditional Medicine Wheel. This is a sacred site in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming.
Art Shows and Exhibitions
Edgar Heap of Birds has shown his art all over the world. One of his first solo shows was Full Blooded. This show happened in 1984. It was at the Center of the American Indian in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Awards and Recognitions
Heap of Birds has received many important grants and awards. These include awards from the National Endowment for the Arts. He also got support from the Rockefeller Foundation.
Other awards came from The Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation. He also received honors from The Wallace Foundation and The Bonfil Stanton Foundation. He was also recognized by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
In 2012, he was named a Fellow of United States Artists. This is a special honor for artists.
Images for kids
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Dead Indian Stories, a monoprint artwork.
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Wheel, a large outdoor sculpture.
