UMD News Releases

Producer and Director Chris Eyre at UMD October 23

Duluth, MN — Internationally known filmmaker Chris Eyre will be at UMD on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 introducing and showing his film “Skins” from 6 - 8 p.m. in Montague Hall 70. The event is free and open to the public.

The screening is part of the programming for the Tweed Museum’s exhibition Blood Memoirs. Eyre says that “Skins” echoes Blood Memoirs theme of exploring individuality, memory, and culture. “Genetic memory is part and parcel of the native culture. We can’t forget our past, which is both good and bad. We have a lot of generational trauma, but you can’t have tribes and culture without your past.”

Eyre has been described as “the preeminent Native American filmmaker of his time” by People magazine and “a great American filmmaker” by Geoff Gilmore, director of the Sundance Film Festival. Eyre directed the highly acclaimed film “Smoke Signals” which won the Sundance Audience Award and Sundance Filmmakers Trophy.

“Skins” is about two brothers living on the Pine Ridge Reservation and the struggles they face individually and as part of the community. Eyre says, “Mogi, one of the characters, can’t let go of the past. As native people, we have a blood memory. Always talking about your past and your history, it’s a native phenomenon.”

Blood Memoirs: Exploring Individuality, Memory and Culture through Portraiture opened at the Tweed on September 10 and is guest curated by Amber-Dawn Bear Robe. The opening reception for the exhibition will be held Tuesday, October 22 from 7- 9 p.m.