Octopus Dreams

June 29, 2013 – September 21, 2013

This exhibition in the upstairs gallery, concurrently with Air, Land, Seed downstairs, features works on paper by 36 contemporary Native American artists. Curated by Suzanne Fricke and Beverly Morris, the project was originally organized with the Institute of American Indian Arts to celebrate 2012 as the official year of Russian-American friendship. The American Consulate sponsored the show at the Ekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts in Russia. Each piece was chosen to reflect the complexity and richness of modern Native life. The artists reflect the diversity in tribal affiliation, geographic location, gender and age, and share an intricate vision of life lived in different worlds, from the long traditions of their specific tribes to the politics and pop of the world at large. The continued vitality and relevance of Native artists to the art world in general speaks to the strength of Native cultures, not only for their ability to survive but to thrive, and their ability to create and recreate in the face of many challenges.

Artists include:

Tony Abeyta, Frank Buffalo Hyde, Chris Pappan, Deborah Jojola, Alex Pena, Neal Ambrose-Smith, Jeff Kahm, George Rivera, Shuvinai Ashoona, lessLIE (Leslie Sam), Mateo Romero, Jamison (Chas) Banks, Linda Lomahaftewa, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Marwin Begaye, Rhett Lynch, Ningeokuluk Teevee, Ross Chaney, Michael McCabe, Charlene Teters, Rande Cook, America Meredith, Marty Two Bulls, Laura Fragua-Cota, Ohotaq Mikkigak, Emmi Whitehorse, Bob Haozous, N. Scott Momaday, Stephen Wood, Edgar Heap of Birds, Daniel Namingha, Melanie Yazzie, Luzene Hill, Eliza Naranjo Morse and Debra Yepa-Pappan

Press

Adrian Gomez, “Art exhibits expand time, place” Albuquerque Journal

Eva Avenue, “Indigenous and Global: Two New Shows at 516 ARTS” Pyragraph

Kelly Koepke, “CCA and 516: Nonprofit Art Spaces Create Cultural Hubs” TREND Magazine, p.38