The celebrated modernist Truman Lowe grew up in a Ho-Chunk community outside of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, and spent most of his life living and working in the state. His first language was Hoocąąk, the language spoken by members of the Ho-Chunk Nation. From an early age, his parents and grandparents steeped him in tribal handiwork traditions, including basketry, beadwork, and woodwork. After studying art and art education at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, Lowe earned an MFA in sculpture from UW–Madison. Intricate and graceful minimalist sculptures evoke his heritage, Wisconsin’s woodland environments, and people who inhabited and made an impact on the sacred native lands where he was raised. Wood and water—essential physical, spiritual, and metaphysical resources for the Ho-Chunk people—are throughlines in Lowe’s life and art. Made with malleable wood, soft organic lines, repetitions, and layering, Lowe’s works combine his extensive knowledge of Wisconsin’s woodlands with his formal art training, creating sculptures that represent and speak to both Native and non-Native communities.
The celebrated modernist Truman Lowe grew up in a Ho-Chunk community outside of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, and spent most of his life living and working in the state. His first language was Hoocąąk, the language spoken by members of the Ho-Chunk Nation. From an early age, his parents and grandparents steeped him in tribal handiwork traditions, including basketry, beadwork, and woodwork. After studying art and art education at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, Lowe earned an MFA in sculpture from UW–Madison. Intricate and graceful minimalist sculptures evoke his heritage, Wisconsin’s woodland environments, and people who inhabited and made an impact on the sacred native lands where he was raised. Wood and water—essential physical, spiritual, and metaphysical resources for the Ho-Chunk people—are throughlines in Lowe’s life and art. Made with malleable wood, soft organic lines, repetitions, and layering, Lowe’s works combine his extensive knowledge of Wisconsin’s woodlands with his formal art training, creating sculptures that represent and speak to both Native and non-Native communities.
Social Choreography Score
by Kim Miller
Social Choreography Score
by Kim Miller
Start by standing at one end of the sculpture grouping.
Walk up and down the length of the sculpture once, ending back where you started.
Notice the arcing lines of the sculpture.
How can you make arcing lines possible in your own body? Explore this movement
Slowly come back to standing.
Raise both of your arms out to the side of you.
Make your way to the opposite end of the sculpture grouping with your arms outstretched and taking long strides.
Once you have made it to the opposite end, notice the waves going through the sculptures.
With your arms still outstretched, make wave-like movements flow through them.
Let this movement flow into your whole body, letting your arms move wherever the waves take them.
How can you incorporate as much of your body as possible with the wave-like movements?
Let the movements move your feet.
Move to a new vantage point - either within the space or outdoors from the space - with this full-body movement, taking your time and moving in the direction the waves flow.
Let the movement slow down and slowly leave your body, leaving you standing still.
Start by standing at one end of the sculpture grouping.
Walk up and down the length of the sculpture once, ending back where you started.
Notice the arcing lines of the sculpture.
How can you make arcing lines possible in your own body? Explore this movement
Slowly come back to standing.
Raise both of your arms out to the side of you.
Make your way to the opposite end of the sculpture grouping with your arms outstretched and taking long strides.
Once you have made it to the opposite end, notice the waves going through the sculptures.
With your arms still outstretched, make wave-like movements flow through them.
Let this movement flow into your whole body, letting your arms move wherever the waves take them.
How can you incorporate as much of your body as possible with the wave-like movements?
Let the movements move your feet.
Move to a new vantage point - either within the space or outdoors from the space - with this full-body movement, taking your time and moving in the direction the waves flow.
Let the movement slow down and slowly leave your body, leaving you standing still.
