Indigenous women artists tell their own stories in new exhibit

Fawn Douglas’ beingness is defined by balance. She is simply a parent and a student, a concern spouse and an artist, a Las Vegas section and an enrolled subordinate of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe. In the caller accumulation “Ah’-Wah-Nee,” Douglas and different artists research the equilibrium they prosecute with arsenic Native American women.

An creation portion by Fawn Douglas entitled, Nuwuvi: Our Bodies, Our Lands, is seen astatine the Nuwu Art and Activism Studios successful Las Vegas, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021. Fawn Douglas, curator for the Ah-wah-nee Exhibition and Symposium astatine the Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery, volition show her portion astatine the gallery. (Erik Verduzco / Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Erik_Verduzco

“I felt it was important to fto Indigenous radical archer their ain stories and physique dialog among Native American issues,” says Douglas, noted activistic and a pupil successful UNLV’s Master of Fine Arts program, who curated the accumulation for the school’s Donna Beam Gallery. “What amended mode to bash that than done the arts?”

In “Ah’-Wah-Nee” — the Southern Paiute word for “balance” — Douglas says pistillate artists who are members of Indigenous tribes crossed the Southwest person submitted artworks that code their lived experiences, the legacies of colonialism and existent events that impact Indigenous communities. The pieces instrumentality the signifier of stylized photos, beadwork, multimedia pieces and more. One example: A photograph by creator Cara Romero depicts a pistillate underwater, carrying a handbasket knitted with enactment successful the benignant of the Chemehuevi tribe. “It’s a glimpse into the past and the aboriginal arsenic Indigenous radical reclaim and clasp Indigenous ways,” says Douglas. “It shows the quality of Indigeneity not ever seen successful different works.” Other artists successful the show, respective of whom person Nevada ties: Loretta Burden, Noelle Garcia, Jean LaMarr, Melissa Melero Moose, Natani Notah, Rose B. Simpson, Roxanne Swentzell, Shelby Westika. Time to larn their names.

“Ah’-Wah-Nee,” Nov. 1-Dec. 10, UNLV’s Donna Beam Gallery, unlv.edu/calendar An accompanying symposium volition instrumentality spot Nov. 4-5 astatine the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art.