Sculptures by Jimmie Durham, an artist at the center of a controversy over the right to be certified an "Indian artist," will be featured in an exhibition from Nov. 1 to Dec. 13 at the C.N. Gorman Museum at the University of California, Davis. Also included in the show will be two installations by Brian Tripp. An opening reception will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1. Durham is of Cherokee descent, but is not allowed to call himself an "Indian artist" according to the federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act. Signed by President Bush in November 1990, the legislation stipulates that a person cannot be called an "Indian artist" unless he or she is a member of an Indian tribe or certified as an artist by a tribe. Following the enactment of the legislation, two galleries devoted exclusively to Indian art, one in San Francisco, the other in Santa Fe, N.M., canceled exhibitions of Durham's work. That Durham so far is the only artist denied exhibition space as a result of the act is somewhat ironic, because "Indian artist" is not a label he seeks or desires. Despite his ancestry, he stated in a recent Artnews article, "I am not an 'Indian artist' in any sense. My work is simply contemporary art. My work does not speak for, about, or even to Indian people." However, Durham has been active for many years in Native American political affairs and, in much of his work, he challenges the stereotypical images of Native Americans that have been created by European-American art and history. Durham's sculptures and installations often are painted and incorporate materials that are traditional, such as bone, stones, hair and feathers, and modern, such as steel, plastic, chrome and glass. Supporters of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act argue that it is designed to prevent non-Indian artists, primarily European-Americans, from profiting at the expense of genuine Native Americans. Critics, however, say that the law excludes many Indian artists who choose not to enroll in tribes for personal or political reasons, or cannot trace their lineage. The critics also charge that the rimary supporters of the act are a small group of Indian artists whose main motive is protecting their share of the market by negating the genuine heritage of as many Native American competitors as possible. Tripp, a Karuk artist born in Eureka and raised in the vicinity of the Klamath River, will have two installations in the exhibition. In contrast to Durham, Tripp maintains a strong identification with his tribal heritage. He regards his work as an expansion upon the artistic tradition of his ancestors, whose achievements and abilities are evident in their feather work and baskets. He also is a traditional dancer and singer, and is active in Native American ceremonies of northwest California. Tripp's work has been exhibited in Northern California, Texas, New York, Oklahoma and New Mexico. He was an art instructor at California State University, Humboldt, and was an artist-in-residence at the Headlands Center for the Arts in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The C.N. Gorman Museum is located in TB 111, at the northeast corner of Hutchison Drive and California Avenue. It is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment. For more information, call (916) 752-6567.