RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
MUSEUMS
FIRST AMERICANS MUSEUM in Oklahoma City opened to the public on September 18 , 2021 . The 175,000 square-feet museum showcases exhibitions tracing the history and cultures of Oklahoma ’ s 39 tribes — the 38 federally recognized tribes and the Yuchi , who are predominantly enrolled in the Muscogee ( Creek ) Nation — as well as broader pictures of Indigenous history and contemporary lifeways .
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma , the third largest tribe in the United States , opened its CHOCTAW CULTURAL CENTER in Calera , Oklahoma , in July 2021 . More than 100,000 square-feet large , the museum holds interactive exhibits about Choctaw history , cultures , and politics , while a changing gallery and museum store showcase Choctaw artworks . The children ’ s area has small-scale version of Choctaw houses throughout time , the café serves Choctaw dishes , and an outdoor Living Village at the base of a massive platform mound teaches visitors about precontact Choctaw lifeways .
The MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS , BOSTON , hired Marina Tyquiengco ( CHamoru ) as its first Ellyn McColgan Assistant Curator of Native American Art . Previously a contemporary art curatorial assistant at the museum and a visiting instructor at Brown University , Tyquiengco earned her doctoral and master ’ s degrees at the University of Pittsburgh and her bachelor ’ s degree from the University of Virginia .
The Reiter Family is donating 109 Indigenous American artworks to the LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART . Their generous gift includes 82 Southwestern ceramic pieces spanning the 19th and 20th centuries . Other remarkable pieces include Pomo feathered baskets , Northwest Coast woodcarvings , and artworks from Mexico and Central America .
above SWAIA 2021 Santa Fe Indian Best of Show – winner : Rhonda Holy Bear ( Cheyenne River Lakota ), Lakota Honor – Sees the Horses Woman ( SuWakan Ayutan Win ), 2019 , wooden doll , glass beads , porcupine quills , deerhide , 23 × 8 × 3 in . Image courtesy of SWAIA , Santa Fe .
GALLERIES & STUDIOS
The United Indians of All Tribes Foundation and Daybreak Star Cultural Center launched SACRED CIRCLE ART GALLERY in Seattle . The new retail gallery features Native American art , commercial prints , and gifts and plans to host live events such as concerts .
Celebrating its 100th anniversary , Cambridge Bay , Victoria Island , Nunavut , improved its Itqaumavik Heritage Park and unveiled its new
RED FISH ARTS studio . Occupying a building that once served as a fish plant , the studio provides locals with space to learn and practice welding , painting , and other art forms . The studio was made possible by Arctic Inspiration Prize funding Nunavut youth won in 2018 .
ART SHOWS
The Myaamia Heritage Museum and Archive in Miami , Oklahoma , hosted its second annual EUGENE BROWN MEMORIAL ART SHOW open to members of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma . Jared Nally won best in show for a twined panel bag . Josiah Dorey won best in show for youth and the Cultural Resources Office Theme Award . Gracie Williams won the People ’ s Choice Award .
Carolyn Pallett ( Cherokee Nation ) won the grand prize at the 26th annual CHEROKEE HOMECOMING ART SHOW in Tahlequah , Oklahoma . Hosted by the Cherokee Heritage Center , the juried art show is open to artists from all three Cherokee tribes . Category winners ( all Cherokee ) were Perry Van Buskirk , traditional arts ; Wills Brewer , contemporary pottery ; Rose Drake , contemporary basketry ; Jon Williams , visual arts ; Charlies Nichols , sculpture ; Karen Berry , textiles ; Steven Morales , jewelry ; and Andrea Tidwell , beadwork . Roy Boney Jr . ( Cherokee Nation ) won the Sequoyah Bicentennial Award , and Charlie Nichols won the Bill Rabbit Legacy Award and the Betty Scraper-Gardner Elder Award . Devin Dry won the Jennie Ross Cobb Photography Award , and Joyce Lyle won the Emerging Artist Award .
ART MARKETS
Kevin Horace Quannie ( Hopi / Navajo ) won Best of Show at the 4th annual BERNALILLO INDIAN ARTS FESTIVAL in Bernalillo , New Mexico . Category winners were Melissa Antonio ( Acoma ), traditional pottery ; Glendora Fragua ( Jemez ), contemporary pottery ; Kevin Horace Quannie , sculpture ; Prinston Collateta ( Hopi-Tewa / Navajo ), miniature sculpture ; Robert Johnson ( Navajo ), traditional jewelry ; Aaron Brokeshoulder ( Absentee Shawnee /
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