In 2019, New Mexico-based artist and researcher Nina Elder exhibited What Endures in the SITElab. Featuring a collection of drawings from three bodies of work, What Endures highlighted some of the most environmentally impacted and economically important places on earth, questioned what is sacred, and explored the artist’s practice of “bearing witness” to the world.

As part of this exhibition, Elder recorded a audio tour with Guide By Cell exploring the works below. Dial 505-225-8535 and follow Nina‘s channels 31 – 39 to hear her discuss a number of topics that her work in the show addresses.

Nina Elder, Photo Courtesy of the Artist
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Nina Elder, "Unprocessed Uranium," 2017 Pigment and radioactive charcoal on paper. Courtesy of the artist. Photo by the artist.
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Nina Elder, "Kennecott Corporation: Haerwusu, China," 2016. Graphite and pulverized mining slag on paper. Courtesy of the artist. Photo by the artist.
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Nina Elder, "Ahnighito," (Cape York Meteorite) in transit to the American Museum of Natural History, 1897, 2017. Charcoal and pulverized meteorite on paper made in consultation with the Illoqqortoomuit Community and the International Repatriation Project. Courtesy of the artist. Photo by the artist.
Nina Elder, "An Incomplete List of Things That Protect," 2018. Pulverized guns on incised paper. Courtesy of the artist. Photo by the artist.

Special thanks to The Thoma Foundation and Courtney Finch Taylor for their support.


Activity:

Nina Elder’s Incomplete Lists series, exhibited as part of What Endures in the SITElab as well as on the billboards on the west facade of SITE Santa Fe and in the Education Lab, investigates the process of trying to answer complex questions exhaustively in one sitting. For example: What is fleeting? What might offer protection? What is sensitive? The resulting lists function both as drawings and as poems. For her installation in the Education Lab, she engaged local elementary school students to help her create these lists.

SITE invites you to make your own incomplete list inspired by Nina’s process by responding to one of the following prompts:

– “Things That Bring Me Joy”
– “Things I Miss Doing Outside”

Share your creations with us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) using the tag #SITEoffsite.