“Re-Discovering Native America: Stories in Motion” from The Red Road Project
There is a new exhibit at the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek from The Road Project, a collaboration between writer Danielle SeeWalker (Hunkpapa and Oglala Lakota) and photographer Carlotta Cardana (Italian), longtime friends and, since 2013, collaborators. Together, they work to “document, through words & visuals, the inspiring and resilient stories of Native America.”
According to Seewalker’s Instagram announcement, the current exhibition, Re-Discovering Native America: Stories in Motion, is their most extensive exhibition to date. In addition to the beautiful photography and poignant stories, contemporary Native American Artists’ 3D artworks are also included.
The exhibit is the culmination of ten years of work by SeeWalker and Cardana. It reflects on contemporary Indigenous life across the country.
The Red Road Project, Wyoming Wild Horses, 2015, photograph (analogue) on fine art giclée paper [image is resized]; (Bottom, From the Bedford Gallery Website).
The Bedford Gallery, located in the “historic” district of Walnut Creek, is inside the Lesher Center for the Performing Arts. I arrived this past weekend on a warm, sunny Sunday afternoon. I am always interested in seeing a new exhibit; this was my first time at the Bedford Gallery and my first time at an art show since moving back to the Bay Area.
I was initially intrigued by the title. As noted in The Red Road Project’s Statement of Purpose, there has been a continuous non-Native narrative that supersedes our own Indigenous narratives, often distorting who we truly are with a delusional narrative meant to support the colonial agenda. As our readership can likely agree, having the opportunity and space to tell our own stories and narratives is essential.
But I like the title: Re-Discovering Native America: Stories in Motion. It felt like a call to action to remind non-Native people that we are still here. In fact, leaving the exhibit, that was what I felt most deeply: a sense of pride that anywhere you go in this country, you will find us. We are of different nations but united in our indigeneity to this country. We have remained resilient. We are still here, and we continue going forward.
The 3D art pieces were all very different in style, highlighting the vast diversity across contemporary indigenous art. In particular, I was drawn to Chelsea Kaiah’s work, a piece entitled Wallow. Of White Mountain Apache and White River Ute heritage, Kaiah utilizes traditional materials and practices alongside storytelling to create incredible pieces. Wallow completed in 2023 is part of a larger project entitled Buffalo Hides “documenting the journey of her family’s annual buffalo hunt, an act of labor and love”. There is a profound beauty to Wallow that also looks to “explore the grief felt while hunting”. There is a strength in the piece highlighted by Kaiah’s incredible beadwork, choice of colors, and the intentional use of shape and space. The bag is made from “chestnut dyed brown porcupine quills, vintage cut beads, Miyuki glass beads, Dentallium, rope, felt and a [female] bison hide.”
Close up of Wallow, 2023 by Chelsea Kaiah.
The other participating 3D Artists included Danielle Boyer, Tyler Eash, Brent Learned, Dallin Maybee, Danielle SeeWalker, Carmen Selam, and Anna Tsouhlarakis.
The photography and storytelling of the exhibit were really beautiful and well done. Though, as an Indigenous person, it didn’t always feel as though it was for me, but rather for those who chose to ignore our existence. However, that is not to say it wasn’t empowering. In many ways, I wish this had existed when I was a child because I was always conscious of the lack of contemporary representation and how isolating that felt, particularly when we’d journey to somewhere like the Oakland Museum to learn about the first people of California who “used” to be here. Seeing Native people’s strength and resilience existing as the contemporary people we are would have meant so much to little me.
The location of the Bedford Gallery, which is part of the Lesher Center for the Performing Arts, and the beautiful spring day ensured that the museum was filled with people. I kept smiling as I noted people of all ages being awe-inspired by the strong faces around us and their incredible stories rarely heard outside of Indigenous spaces. Another reminder of the importance of continuing to share our stories; they are essential and necessary, particularly in a world facing an uncertain future. It is the knowledge of our ancestors that is needed most at this time.
I take my hat off to Danielle SeeWalker and Carlotta Cardana, The Red Road Project, The Bedford Gallery and all their collaborators for telling these important stories and putting together such a fantastic exhibit.
If you are in the Bay Area, I recommend a journey to the Bedford Gallery. Re-Discovering Native America: Stories in Motion will be on exhibit through June 23, 2024.
Bedford Gallery
Lesher Center for the Arts
1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
Four blocks south of the Walnut Creek Station
Hours: Wed-Sun, 12pm-5pm
Admission: Pay What You Can!
