GVSU Art Gallery, Muskegon Museum of Art present joint exhibition of Native American contemporary art

A joint exhibition between the Grand Valley Art Gallery and the Muskegon Museum of Art is highlighting Native American contemporary art.

The Art of the People: Contemporary Anishinaabe Artists features artwork from both nationally recognized artists and those early in their career. The artists are addressing through their work issues of craft, history, identity, social and political justice, and popular culture.

Grand Valley's part of the exhibition, which specifically includes themes of identity, social justice and Native American studies, opens Jan. 11 at the Art Gallery in the Haas Center for Performing Arts. The museum has already opened its part of the exhibition, which will remain open at both locations through the end of February.

A call went out to the Anishinaabe community with the help of guest curator Jason Quigno, a sculptor and member of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, said Nathan Kemler, director of GVSU Galleries and Collections. Artists submitted their work for review, with pieces selected from each artist to be shown simultaneously at the GVSU Art Gallery and museum.

The exhibition includes pieces that incorporate sculpture, painting, ceramics, beadwork, mixed media and photography.

Kemler said this collaboration with the Muskegon Museum of Art creates a larger platform for "our Anishinaabe community to tell their stories in their own voice.”

"The Anishinaabe Peoples have inhabited the Great Lakes area for thousands of years and remain deeply connected to it today despite centuries of injustice and struggle," Kemler said. "The stories of this exhibition, which includes change, grief, celebration and tradition, belong to us all. We all share a common bond, the collective struggle of humanity. Therefore, we want to provide a common space to amplify these stories so that we can learn and grow from them together as a community.”

This partnership also continues a strong working relationship between representatives from two important West Michigan institutions supporting each other's respective missions, said Art Martin, director of Collections and Exhibitions/senior curator for the Muskegon Museum of Art.

"In the case of this exhibition, the MMA and Art Gallery staff were both working in parallel towards similar shows, so pooling our resources was a perfect fit," Martin said. "By having the show in two locations, we can greatly increase the exposure of these artists to the public and better shape programs that meet the goals of both institutions. 

"Both institutions have a history of supporting living Michigan artists as well, so having us partner brings more attention to our efforts."

Find more information about the exhibition here.