New Sculpture to Celebrate Indigenous Hoop Dance at the Heard Museum
For almost 40 years, the Heard Museum in Phoenix has been the proud host of the World Championship Hoop Dance Contest, an event that has its roots at the 1991 New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque. The museum, a beacon for Indian arts and culture, is now set to unveil a new sculpture that pays homage to this traditional Indigenous sport born in the American Southwest.
The museum has issued an open call for Indigenous artists from the U.S. and Canada to submit their portfolios for consideration. A juried committee will select three semifinalists, each of whom will receive a $2,000 honorarium to develop and present their design concepts. The final artist will be chosen to bring their vision to life.
Olivia Barney, assistant curator at the Heard Museum and a member of the Diné community, expressed enthusiasm for the range of materials artists may choose from, including bronze, steel, stone, or wood. “There’s a little bit of guidelines in terms of size, and of course, this will be outside, so it has to be able to handle the Phoenix heat and weather,” Barney stated. “But as far as the subject goes, we’re really trying to just leave that artistic creativity open and see, you know, what they come up with.”
The selected artist will work with a budget of $100,000, generously funded by an anonymous donor who is a devoted fan of hoop dancing. The sculpture is expected to be completed by February 2028, coinciding with the 38th annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest.
Artists interested in participating must submit their portfolios by Wednesday, Nov. 4.
