Gagizhibaajiwan
A new exhibit at the Center for Native Futures opened on Saturday, June 15, 2024. Titled "Gagizhibaajiwan," this exhibit explored ideas of duality and paradox, expanding the range of what can be considered art in this setting. Artists featured sculptures, audio-visuals, weaving and paintings.
All four artists brought their own expertise. Marcella Ernest (Gunflint Lake Ojibwe/Bad River Band of Lake Superior) exhibited her sound-video pieces, Renee Wasson Dillard (Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians) exhibited her weaving projects, Zoey Wood-Salomon (Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory) exhibited her paintings and Michael Belmore (Anishinaabe from Lac Seul First Nation) exhibited his sculptures.
Hear from Biggs and Belmore to see how their work contributed to the theme "Gagizhibaajiwan."
Lois Taylor Biggs (Cherokee Nation/White Earth Ojibwe) was the lead curator of the Gagizhibaajiwan exhibit at the Center for Native Futures. In this video, she shares how artists from across the nation and even beyond are coming to Chicago to reintroduce people to this rich mythology.
Michael Belmore (Anishinaabe from Lac Seul First Nation) is a sculpture artist. His work featured in Gagizhibaajiwan. Belmore talks about how he used copper to tell the story of the two beings, Mishibijiw (Underwater Serpent) and Animikii (Thunderbird). He notes that the copper is just as much a symbol of their connection as it is between humans.
Gagizhibaajiwan opened at the Center for Native Futures on June 15, 2024 with a reception from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.