California State Park’s Antelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic Park (SHP) will showcase seven Indigenous artists during Native American Heritage Month. Visitors will have an opportunity to meet and engage with the artists and purchase their artwork.
On Saturday, Nov. 1, and Sunday, Nov. 2, the museum will highlight internationally recognized gourd artist Nadiya Littlewarrior (Potawatomi/Cherokee). Nadiya founded Spirit Vessels Studio in 1993. Regarding her gourds, Nadiya says, “They are Spirit Vessels to me because The Creator makes the Gourd People and puts their spirit in them, and I get to dress them with regalia.”
Desiree Belone (Ponca/Diné) will share her art on Sunday, Nov. 9. Desiree’s art blends the ancient traditions of her Indigenous roots with contemporary forms of expression. Each piece she creates is imbued with the philosophy of “good medicine,” where natural elements such as shells, crystals and fur are thoughtfully incorporated to honor the Earth and its healing powers.
On Sunday, Nov. 9, the museum will also feature screenings of short documentaries on Native California issues produced by Giveaway Songs Television in the 1990s. Producer Kat High (Hupa) will introduce the films and answer -questions from visitors.
On Saturday, Nov. 15, the museum will host Nadia Reed, a member of the Chinook Nation in Washington State. Her Pacific Northwest Coastal Native American heritage inspired paintings convey a mixture of symbolic, expressionistic imagery of dancers, waterfalls, forests, animals, fish, masks and mythical beings.
Experience Maree Cheatam’s (Muskogee Creek/Choctaw) award-winning ceramic creations on Nov. 16. Maree says, “I grew up digging clay from Oklahoma and Texas creek beds for my doll’s dishes and dried them in the sun. Now I fire them in a kiln! My Muskogee Creek/Choctaw heritage shows in my work. Every pot I throw and paint is an expression of my love of the earth.”
