One Tribe

Mihio Manus' photographs speak volumes

M

aricopa, Ariz.-based photographer

’ path was marked by two distinct chunks of his youth: a black-and-white photography class he took as a sophomore at Chinle High School and his love for live, underground concerts along the Navajo Nation.

"As an adolescent, growing up on a reservation, it wasn't as prominent as it could have been in the cities," he says of the latter. "I was able to go to the border towns. I knew there was a scene there and I started to photograph."

Works spanning over 20 years compose his Heavy Volume, Small Spaces unveiling this Friday at IAIA's Museum of Contemporary Native Arts.

His are gritty, on-the-fly images that reflect not just the anti-establishment attitudes of the hardcore, punk and metal scenes, but also a sense of community and the hubris of youth.

"It's really interesting to see how things have changed, how we used to hang out with a lot more friends and do things. Now I have a family, and I'm a pretty normal 9-to-5 guy," he says of the feeling of instant nostalgia some of his shots produce.

Most, if not all, of the unsigned bands Manus documented have faded into memory. He hopes that shining a light on them reinvigorates the music scene on the rez.

"This past year I turned 40, so that puts things into perspective…I still go to the punk shows. It's interesting to see how some of your life was documented like that."

Heavy Volume, Small Spaces
5-7 pm Saturday, Jan. 24
IAIA/MoCNA 108 Cathedral Place,
(888) 922-4242

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