Patty Swygert’s Five-Piece Sculpture Series “Cadeau” will now be on permanent display at the National Buffalo Museum in Jamestown.

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (National Buffalo Museum) – The National Buffalo Museum has announced the purchase of five of the pieces created by Virginia-based artist Patty Swygert for her debut art installation show, I AM BISON.

The show debuted at the National Buffalo Museum in November 2020, and was on view until November 2021. Created specifically for the National Buffalo Museum’s temporary gallery spaces, the two- and three-dimensional works tell the story of the US National Mammal from prehistory to the present day.

The five-piece Cadeau series was a last-minute addition to the show. As the artist was finishing the larger works, she was inspired to create these five micro sculptures from fragments of bison bones and other materials in her workspace. Cadeau, which means gift in French, was designed to honor the bison bones that were strewn over the plains during the animal’s near extermination.

Wrapped thread was used as a way to symbolically protect the bones and light-reflective film was used to symbolize the preciousness of the species.

“These unique and modern pieces are a great visual compliment to the stories we tell about the bison’s near extinction, and eventual restoration thanks to individuals who valued the animal.” National Buffalo Museum Executive Director Ilana Xinos said.

She explained that the Cadeau series traveled to Denver with National Buffalo Museum staff for exhibit at the National Bison Association’s 2022 winter conference in mid-January.

“It was really exciting to share these new acquisitions with our colleagues in the bison business,” she added.

The National Buffalo Museum’s mission is to advocate for the restoration of the North American Bison through education and outreach.

For more information, contact Rachel Johnson at 701-252-8648 or collections@buffalomuseum.com.