“Ancestors” – a group exhibition curated by Steph Littlebird and Kanani Miyamoto. Confluence Emerging Indigenous Artist Kitana Connelly’s work is featured!
On display June 21 – July 27, 2024.
Artists participating in this group exhibition include Amber Kay Ball, Anthony Hudson, amoqiix-araceli, Molly Alloy, marvin parra orozco, Arie Beston, Marybel Martin, Amie Pascal, Jerome Alexander Sloan, Nica Aquino, Christina Martin, Kitana Connelly, Lucas Cantoni Jose, and Sunset Suh. Through their work, they are exploring how their identities are impacted or influenced by their ancestors. “Clear and strong self-identity comes from being in constant communication with our ancestors,” say Kanani and Steph. “This exhibition explores the ways in which different communities maintain their connections. For many, being in relationship with one’s ancestors is an act of survivance and through sharing our stories we can start to imagine a collective existence.”
The opening reception for this exhibition will be held on Thursday, June 27 from 6-8 p.m. in the gallery. Light refreshments will be served, and many of the artists will be present. There will be an artist talk via Zoom on Saturday, July 13th at 10:30 a.m. The curator talk will be held via Zoom on Saturday, July 20th at 11 a.m. Pre-registration is required to attend the online events, and can be completed by clicking on the links provided. All events are free and open to the public.
Kanani Miyamoto is an artist, curator, and educator. She is originally from Honolulu, Hawai`i, and is currently living in Portland, Oregon. Kanani holds an MFA in Print Media from the Pacific Northwest College of Art, and a BFA in Art Practices from Portland State University. Her artwork has been shown nationally. As an individual of mixed heritage who identifies most with her Hawaiian and Japanese roots. she uses traditional printmaking techniques to create large-scale print installations. Important to her work as an artist is “sharing and celebrating her unique mixed background in our contemporary art world in hopes of representing her community and the beauty of intersectional identities.” Kanani is also an advocate for art education and a passionate community worker. She works at p:ear as the Art Coordinator.
Steph Littlebird is an artist, curator, writer, and a member of Oregon’s Grand Ronde Confederated Tribes. She received national recognition as curator of This IS Kalapuyan Land (2020), an exhibition at the Five Oaks Museum in Portland which was featured by ArtNews and PBS NewsHour. Other curatorial projects include Untold Parallels, Mata Art Gallery, L.A. (2020), which re-examined colonial histories of the so-called Philippines and Filipinx-American diaspora, and colonized people Indigenous to “North America.” Most recently, Pʰot-Choch, an exhibition held at Anita, Astoria OR (2021) presented traditional and contemporary art of the original Chinook inhabitants of the North Coast. Her visual work engages issues related to contemporary Indigenous identities, marginalized histories, and responsible land stewardship. Littlebird earned her B.F.A. in Painting and Printmaking from the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) in Portland.