Art Show Highlights Native American Work Amid Native American Heritage Month
SAN DIEGO, CA — In celebration of November being Native American Heritage Month, a San Diego art gallery is bringing artists from tribes and reservations all over the country to San Diego.
The fifth annual Native American Art Show at Exclusive Collections Gallery highlights the cultural heritage of top Native American artists through paintings, mixed media pieces and sculptures. The show also showcases apparel from Native American artists, including bags and designer hats.
“It’s more than just an art show,” said Ruth-Ann Thorn, founder of EC Gallery. “I’m trying to bring back the culture onto the land that Native people were once residing.”
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The show features work from internationally acclaimed Native American artists, including Cara Romero, LX Lewis, Ruben Chato, George Rivera, Jeremy Salazar, Votan, Cody Sanderson and Stuart Sampson. There are also specialty hats by Auntie Creations and custom bags by Wabanoonkwe.
“In a way, for Native American Heritage Month, it’s taking space back,” Thorn told Patch. “We’re coming back into spaces that our ancestors lived for thousands of years. There’s a lot of significance behind it.”
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Thorn is very involved in the Native community. She is a registered tribal member of the Rincon Band of Luiseño/Payómkawichum Indians in Southern California. She lives on Rincon Indian Reservation, where her family is from.
“I feel like there’s always been a lack of representation for Native people in San Diego considering there’s 18 federally recognized tribes here,” Thorn said. “San Diego County has more tribes in our area than anywhere else in the United States. There’s lots of tribes. There’s 537 federally recognized tribes across the United States, but we just have the highest concentration of those in the county.”
Thorn is very involved in the Native community. She is a registered tribal member of the Rincon Band of Luiseño/Payómkawichum Indians in Southern California. She lives on Rincon Indian Reservation, where her family is from.
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Thorn first launched the Native American Art Show when EC Gallery was located in Solana Beach. The gallery has since moved to the Gaslamp area.
“When the Gaslamp area was developed in the mid-1800s Native people were not allowed to own businesses,” a news release from the gallery said. “(Thorn) is the first tribal member to open and operate a business in the area, making this a historic milestone for downtown.”
The art show opened Friday with a blessing from an elder and a drum circle, Thorn said.
The event will continue from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at EC Gallery at 621 Fifth St. in San Diego. The show is free and open to all ages.
In addition to meeting the artists, attendees will be able to enjoy wine, beer, light bites and music.
“It’s a very upbeat community-type event to educate people and also let people know that we’re still here and that we’re thriving and that we have all of this amazing culture to bring to life for people who have never really seen it before,” Thorn said.
For more information, visit ecgallery.com.
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