Spark of the Eagle Dancer: The Collecting Legacy of Lambert Wilson

The WCU Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center is delighted to announce its recent exhibition Spark of the Eagle Dancer: The Collecting Legacy of Lambert Wilson, which opened August 8, 2023, and was initially set to close December 8, 2023, will now be open until June 28, 2024. It is the Museum’s hope that with the exhibition remaining open, it will give people in and around Western North Carolina and beyond the opportunity to experience one of the WCU Fine Art Museum’s most visited exhibitions and allow people to be inspired by Lambert Wilson’s collection. In conjunction with the exhibition extension, the Museum will also host a new program series titled Spark Talks that invites the WNC community to learn from exhibiting artists about their artwork, process, and the relationships they formed with Lambert Wilson. Dates will be announced shortly regarding this programming. Spark of the Eagle Dancer features over 140 works of contemporary Native American art from the collection of one of Western North Carolina’s most notable art enthusiasts. Lambert Wilson, who devoted his life to supporting and encouraging Native artists, amassed an extensive collection of objects during his lifetime, focusing primarily on artists of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee Nation, and sovereign nations of the Southwest. This exhibition brings together a selection of baskets, pottery, carving, painting, photography, and more that tell the story of the relationships Wilson built and the impact that he made by dedicating himself to this remarkable collection. Those who live in Western North Carolina know Lambert Wilson as a respected educator