EMERGENCE Exhibit Will Feature First Nation Artists

— from Diane Martindale for San Juan Islands Museum of Art —

Thunderbird Portrait Mask by Art Thompson

EMERGENCE is the exhibition of First Nation Legendary & Emerging Artists
 that will run through Labor Day. In this exhibition, voices of First Nation ancestors speak through the work of a new generation of artists and their honored mentors.

San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) is honored to present its first exhibition devoted to First Nation art. The artists are members of tribes in the Pacific Northwest Coast and others are Inuit from the Hudson Bay area. Over 30 artists are represented from at least five different outstanding collections.

Included are works from Beau Dick, Simon Charlie, Roger Gray, Tom Hunt, Troy Roberts, Susan Point, Rande Cook, Art Thompson, and Kanaginak Pootoogook, to name a few.

All the effort to plan and execute this fantastic exhibition — the research, labeling, staging, lighting, moving, and construction — has been done by an all-volunteer staff, quite the accomplishment.

Emerging Frog by Rande Cook

Sponsoring this exhibition are 
Dave & Nancy Honeywell Charitable Trust, Kim Miller, Susan and Gary Sterner, Peg Gerlock & Phil Johnson, Anonymous, Law Office of Stephanie Johnson O’Day, Mike’s Wine Bar & Cafe, Printonyx, and Harbor Rental.

SJIMA is located at 540 Spring Street in Friday Harbor. The summer hours are Thursday-Monday, 11-6. Admission is $10; 18 years of age and under are free. The third Monday of the month is free to everyone. For details go to www.sjima.org.

At the heart of the Salish Sea, SJIMA enriches the community, arts, and artists as we champion authenticity of our islands’ expression, place and connections.