Native New York
“Native New York” the newest long-term exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian’s George Gustav Heye Center in New York explores the question “Who are real Native New Yorkers?” Following a 400-mile path across five centuries, the exhibition uses objects, media, interactives and graphic novel illustrations to demonstrate how New York is and always has been a Native place.
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The Challenge
As Native American histories and cultures are still affected by inaccuracy and stereotyping, it was critical that the exhibition offer more accurate stories of the past and reflect how history impacts contemporary Native people today.
Although the exhibition was designed for all ages, the content and experiences had to have a special emphasis on local students and meet New York state curriculum standards. Everything — from the spacing of the galleries, to the graphic style, to the use of animated motion had to be designed with this audience in mind.
Project Vision
Through immersive environments, graphics, and first-person accounts, “Native New York” had to show visitors that the story is far more complex and compelling than outdated myths.
The studio acted as lead designers alongside the Museum’s own team of curators, historians, collections specialists, AV, and facilities staff.
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A graphic-novel theme exists at all levels from individual interpretive-panels to entire exhibit stations and to all the surfaces and walls throughout the entire project.
C&G Partners
Through the Museum, custom illustrations throughout the exhibit were commissioned from Native graphic novel creators, often paired with hands-on touchable elements
C&G Partners
The exhibition follows a 400-mile path across five centuries. It shows us that New York is—and always has been—a Native place.
C&G Partners
Unusual techniques include projections that are double-sided, shows mapped as “magic paintings” onto sculptural picture frames, and gesture-activated digital experiences.
Design & Execution
The organizing principle of the experience is unique, neither chronological nor thematic. It follows a literal trail, hundreds of miles long, through New York State and New York City: at one end, the Hamptons in Eastern Long Island; at the other, Niagara Falls in far Western New York.
Along the way, a dozen stories touch on five centuries of history. Each stop teaches the history behind common myths, blending Native objects with interactive media, all wrapped in theatrical design techniques. The media in the exhibition does not appear to be media, going beyond screens to build an immersive feeling.
Custom illustrations throughout the exhibit were commissioned from Native graphic novel creators, often paired with hands-on touchable elements drawn from each story. The legendarily fearsome Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team plays a key role in the experience. The game of lacrosse, played today by non-Native and Native players alike throughout the world, originated as an important cultural practice for Native people in what is today New York State.
C&G Partners
The organizing principle of the experience is unique, neither chronological nor thematic. It follows a literal trail, hundreds of miles long, through New York State.
C&G Partners
The media in the exhibition does not appear to be media, going beyond screens to build an immersive feeling.
C&G Partners
The legendarily fearsome Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team plays a key role in the experience.
Slideshow
Native New York
C&G Partners
As Native American histories are still affected by inaccuracy and stereotyping, it was critical to offer more accurate stories of the past and present.
C&G Partners
A graphic-novel theme exists at all levels from individual interpretive-panels to entire exhibit stations and to all the surfaces and walls throughout the entire project.
C&G Partners
Through the Museum, custom illustrations throughout the exhibit were commissioned from Native graphic novel creators, often paired with hands-on touchable elements.
C&G Partners
The exhibition follows a 400-mile path across five centuries. It shows us that New York is—and always has been—a Native place.
C&G Partners
Unusual techniques include projections that are double-sided, shows mapped as “magic paintings” onto sculptural picture frames, and gesture-activated digital experiences.
C&G Partners
The organizing principle of the experience is unique, neither chronological nor thematic. It follows a literal trail, hundreds of miles long, through New York State.
C&G Partners
The media in the exhibition does not appear to be media, going beyond screens to build an immersive feeling.
C&G Partners
The legendarily fearsome Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team plays a key role in the experience.