The exhibition, 鈥淭he Future is Indigenous: Messages to the Seventh Generation鈥� is in its final days at Coconino Center for the Arts (CCA), and will be wrapping up on Saturday, June 7. The exhibit, curated by Jihan Gearon, is part of the Contemporary Indigenous Perspectives biennial exhibition series, and showcases Indigenous excellence in arts while extending messages to current and future generations.
鈥淭he idea is that we really open up the space for Indigenous voices by selecting a curator who brings together the work of other artists along a theme of their choice,鈥� Julie Comnick, executive director of Creative Flagstaff and CCA, said.
The exhibit reflects on the Seventh Generation Principle from Haudenosaunee philosophy, Gearon explained, which involves decision making based on the benefit of future generations 鈥� specifically seven generations into the future, past one鈥檚 own lifetime.
Gearon said that while traditional Indigenous artisan work is beautiful and meaningful in its own way, many of the artists in the exhibition were selected for their thoughtfulness as artists who modernize Indigenous arts and prompt relevant discussions to the contemporary viewer.
The seven artists, including Gearon, are Zefren Anderson, Corey Begay, Averian Chee, Jay Redhouse, Monica Wapaha and Janet Yazzie. The exhibit is diverse in art styles, offering an array of work for viewers to enjoy 鈥� from spray painting to fashion.
As one makes their way through the exhibit, they may pull out several symbols that are present in Indigenous stories and teachings, used in the artwork to communicate messages to the viewer. Gearon identified the hummingbird symbol in Jay Redhouse鈥檚 work, and recounted lessons of not discounting 鈥榯he little guy鈥� as well as transformation in various Indigenous stories.
Several artists depicted a cornstalk, which Gearon noted as a big Navajo symbol for life, in many ways. One of Gearon鈥檚 own pieces depicts a brain scan after the artist experienced a 鈥渇reak stroke.鈥�
鈥淥K, this bad thing happened, but there鈥檚 still life to grow,鈥� they said. 鈥淎nd the yellow splashes are the T谩d铆d铆铆n, which is corn fall 鈥� that鈥檚 what Navajos pray with a lot. So, just putting that in there [was] kind of like a prayer too, for my healing and growth from this experience.鈥�
The exhibit also involves an interactive element 鈥� a participatory project in which visitors are invited to share their own messages to future generations via a QR code and Google Form.
鈥淚 wanted people to be able to share 鈥� if they were inspired 鈥� their thoughts about what messages they want to leave for the seventh generation,鈥� Gearon said.
Readers interested in sharing their own messages as part of 鈥淭he Future is Indigenous: Messages to the Seventh Generation鈥� are welcome to do so by scanning the QR code or clicking here:聽.
Erin Gardner, exhibitions and communications manager at Creative Flagstaff and the CCA said getting to know the artists and seeing the exhibit come together has been a great joy of this show.
鈥淚 think overall, the tone is refreshing, it鈥檚 been really refreshing to people to be able to come in and see this perspective that鈥檚 not usually highlighted,鈥� she said.
This exhibit is in its final days, running until June 7, so visitors are encouraged to see "The Future is Indigenous: Messages to the Seventh Generation," before it closes.