Clearly Indigenous Audio Exhibition
When Stars Came to Earth
When Stars Came to Earth, 2012, Brian Barber (American, Pawnee, b. 1975), H. 18 in. (45.7 cm), Diam. 28 in. (71.1 cm), blown and carved glass, Collection of the artist, L10.2023:68
Verbal Description
Hello, I’m Eric Hughett, the museum’s curatorial assistant for East Asian art. I will be sharing a description of When Stars Came to Earth by Brian Barber in Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass.
When Stars Came to Earth, from 2012, was made from blown and carved glass. It was created by Brian Barber, who was born in 1975 and is a Pawnee artist. It is from the collection of the artist.
The blown and carved glass sculpture, When Stars Came to Earth, is displayed in a free-standing case and is visible in the round. This large bowl-shaped work measures 18 inches tall, with a diameter of 28 inches, or 45.7 centimeters tall, with a diameter of 71.1 centimeters. The entirety of the work is shiny black. The exterior is a solid black color, while the interior features tiny, carved white stars and constellations that create a miniature night sky. The form rests slightly on its side, so that both the interior and the exterior are visible.