November 4 – December 13, 2024

16th Annual Native American Art Exhibition

Honoring Ancestors and Embracing our Culture in the Modern World

Image Text: Ray Larkin | We are Still Here | Photography

Native American Art Exhibition

November 4 – December 13, 2024

Opening Reception: Friday, November 8, 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Live Artist Panel Discussion: Friday December 13, 6 – 7:30 pm | Free and open to the public

Please join us to close out the 16th Annual Native American Art Exhibition with an evening of thoughtful discussions from several artists featured in this year’s exhibition.

Guest Curator Mikaela Shafer leads a panel discussion with exhibiting artists Elise Bill -Gerrish, Jessie Doe Mehta, Arie Beston, Megan McDermott, Aganaq Kostenborder, and Amber Starks.

Free and Open to the Public.

A themed exhibition, curated by Mikaela Shafer, posing a thought-provoking question to both artists and viewers: "How can we lovingly honor our ancestors, heal generational traumas, and preserve culture in the modern world? This exhibition engages viewers and celebrates the art and culture of our Native community members.

Mikaela Shafer is an indigenous mother, interdisciplinary artist, and writer living in Olympia, Washington. She has been a costume designer, sculpture writer, and painter since she was a child. Her writing and community-building work led to her being named one of Northern Utah's women who have influenced the history of the community and the development of education and are bringing the area forward for the next generation.

Mikaela Shafer

Guest Curator

When I began putting together my proposal for this exhibition, I envisioned what has often felt missing from local galleries and art establishments: authentic representation of Indigenous stories TODAY. The real, the raw, the honest, the heartbreaking, the strong, the powerful, the magical—these are the narratives that deserve to be shared. Too often, institutions seek a diluted version of our truths, something that is palatable and easy to digest for a non-native audience, often asking artists to tone things down or try to fit into a box. However, our stories are so much more; they are layered, complex, creative, colorful, generational, and beautifully diverse.
I invited artists to reflect on the prompt, “How can we lovingly honor our ancestors, heal generational traumas, and preserve culture in the modern world?” through their work. My intention was for them to share their stories, creativity, and unique voices, allowing their individual experiences to shine through.
To ensure inclusivity, this exhibition showcases a wide variety of artists from the diverse community of indigenous peoples in the Pacific Northwest, representing many different tribes, communities, and backgrounds. By acknowledging the challenges faced by Indigenous peoples due to relocation, disconnection, and modernization, this exhibition serves as a testament to their resilience, illustrating how culture can be preserved and cherished, no matter where we call home.
As visitors engage with this exhibition, I hope they see themselves in the artwork, hear their ancestors, and remember their own stories.

Curator's Bio: Mikaela Shafer is an artist, writer, and mother from Olympia, Washington. She is actively involved in her community as the former co-chair of the Olympia Cultural Access Advisory Board. As the founder of Maqa Collective, she supports businesses and artists' marketing efforts through storytelling and community building, including her role as Lead Storyteller for yəhaw̓ Indigenous Creatives Collective, where she helps to share and preserve stories of the land and artists. Notably, Mikaela's community-building initiatives in Ogden, Utah, earned her recognition from Weber State University, which named her one of the 100 influential women in the region's history. Additionally, she was honored with the 2023-2024 Native Arts and Culture Fund LIFT award and is the 2024 Santa Fe Indian Market 1st place winner in abstract art.