Women-ThemedNative American Cultural Festival
Fenimore Art Museum transformed its annual Native performing arts event to focus on the vital role of women in Native cultures to complement the themes of "As They Saw It: Women Artists Then and Now."
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians:Cultural Festival at Mobile Museum of Art
In partnership with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Cultural Affairs Program, Mobile Museum of Art presented a cultural festival that included performance, artifact sharing, and dialogue centering on Jeffrey Gibson’s “Migration” and the larger exhibition “(Un)Settled: The Landscape in American Art.”
Funding Categories
Honoraria
Supplies
partner
Mobile Museum of Art
location
Mobile, AL
About
In collaboration with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Cultural Affairs Program, Mobile Museum of Art (MMoA) presented a celebration that featured retail options for tribal artisans and craftsmen as well as live demonstrations in pottery, basketry, beadwork, clothing, and dance. During the event, a Choctaw cultural educator presented “(Un)Settled” themes of connection between the physical land and cultural identities, offering a Native perspective and highlighting the relation to Choctaw cultural traditions. Through these offerings, visitors gained a new appreciation for the diverse perspectives on the landscape that shapes American art and culture.
Intended Outcome
MMoA sought to increase the awareness of and appreciation for the Indigenous cultural heritage of Jeffrey Gibson and the nearby Mississippi Choctaw Tribe for at least 100 attendees.
Actual Outcome
Over 250 people attended the festival, and through interdisciplinary engagements, they gained a rich appreciation for the complex relationship between landscape, American identity, and Native perspective.
Advice Post Project
Museums wanting to offer a cultural festival that resonates with families should focus on creating an interconnected experience that blends multiple forms of engagement. Activities like learning traditional dances, listening to live music, and tasting various foods create a welcoming environment where visitors can participate and not only observe. This interdisciplinary approach makes the event enjoyable for all ages and deepens people’s appreciation for cultural traditions that continue to thrive in our communities today.
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Jingle DressPerformance and Discussion
This program combined the performing arts with a discussion of the artistic process behind crafting a traditional jingle dress.
Action/AbstractionCurators Conversation at Schingoethe
Micro talks held at the opening reception for the "Action/Abstraction" exhibition featured curators Tatiana Lomahaftewa-Singer and Manuela Well-Off-Man with artist Linda Lomahaftewa.
Discover More
Women-ThemedNative American Cultural Festival
Fenimore Art Museum transformed its annual Native performing arts event to focus on the vital role of women in Native cultures to complement the themes of "As They Saw It: Women Artists Then and Now."
Jingle DressPerformance and Discussion
This program combined the performing arts with a discussion of the artistic process behind crafting a traditional jingle dress.
Action/AbstractionCurators Conversation at Schingoethe
Micro talks held at the opening reception for the "Action/Abstraction" exhibition featured curators Tatiana Lomahaftewa-Singer and Manuela Well-Off-Man with artist Linda Lomahaftewa.