"What Will I Say to the Sky and Earth II" by Meryl McMaster, from the "Arctic Highways: Unbounded Indigenous People" exhibit at the American Swedish Institute. Credit: Provided by Meryl McMaster

Five art shows in the Twin Cities and Winona, Minnesota, confront the historical impact of migration and colonization. From Indigenous handcrafts, textiles, and beadwork to archival photographs of immigrants, the exhibitions reflect on the enduring scars of the past while offering pathways for healing and reconciliation. Delving into the experiences of displaced communities, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) artists cultivate spaces for collective healing and understanding.

“Waabanishimo (Dancing until Daylight)” by Racquel Banaszak, part of the “Okizi (To Heal)” exhibit at All My Relations gallery in Minneapolis. Credit: Provided by Racquel Banaszak

The healing power of cultural restoration

“What is it like to migrate? To move? To be a human being in this world?” asks Swedish artist and curator Stina Folkebrant when exploring avenues to convey and honor the experiences of Indigenous communities through art. 

The American Swedish Institute (ASI) is collaborating with All My Relations Arts, an American Indian nonprofit art gallery, to address these questions through two shows. 

At the heart of ASI’s “Arctic Highways: Unbounded Indigenous People” exhibition are the works of Folkebrant and Sámi artist Tomas Colbengston, whose collaboration gave birth to ASI’s “Mygration” installation. Inspired by a documentary about the migration of Sámi reindeer herders to North America, the show intertwines Folkebrant’s paintings depicting scenes of reindeer herding and the eight seasons in Sámi culture with Colbengston’s archival prints of Sámi immigrants. 

“I never thought about making art about it,” Colbengston said, “so it was a good way to discover history and visualize the Sámi people, and migration, and nature.”

“We are here now, but what do we do with the history?” Folkebrant’s question echoes throughout the exhibition, which features 12 Indigenous artists from Sámpi, the Sami people’s traditional territory, and North America. These artists will explore the concept of being “unbounded” — the imposition of nation-state borders without consideration for Indigenous landscapes. Through various mediums such as photography, video, sculpture, textiles, and traditional Sámi handcrafts, the show portrays the resilience and adaptation of Indigenous peoples in the face of colonization and cultural assimilation. 

“Art is a good tool to connect when you have this language barrier and when you share some similar history of colonization especially,” Colbengston said. “I believe that the Indigenous people in America, and the Sámi, and the Siberia people, are like brothers and sisters.” 

Attend the exhibition’s “First Look: Arctic Highways” event, featuring a panel discussion with Folkebrant, Colbengston, members of All My Relations Arts, and artists featured in the exhibition from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, February 2. Indigenous musician Keith Bedeau and his Spirit Boy drum group will perform. The event will also feature artmaking activities. 

Want to explore the exhibition through the eyes of a curator and featured artist? Attend a tour led by Colbengston from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, February 3. 

In response to “Arctic Highways,” All My Relations Arts presents “Okizi (To Heal),” which gathers local and crossborder Indigenous voices to explore migration, identity, and resilience. 

The exhibition showcases a range of art forms, including Keith BraveHeart’s ongoing mural “Buffalo Nation: Creating Community,” Courtney M. Leonard’s multimedia exploration of water and material sustainability, Adrienne Keene’s beadwork, basketry, and twinework, and Delia Touché’s textile pieces and family archival photos, among others. 

How to attend “Arctic Highways”

Date: Saturday, February 3 to May 26, 2024

Time: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

Location: American Swedish Institute 2600 Park Ave., Minneapolis

Cost: $13 for adults, $10 for seniors 62 and up, $6 for youth 6-18 and university students with ID. Free for children under 5. 

For more information: Visit asimn.org. 

How to attend “Okizi (To Heal)”

Date: Friday, February 2 to April 13, 2024

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday. 

Location: All My Relations Arts, 1414 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis 

Cost: Free

For more information: Visit allmyrelationsarts.org. 

“Woman Gathering Water, Benue, Nigeria (2015), by Mustafah Abdulaziz, featured in the show “Water” at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Credit: Provided by Mustafah Abdulaziz

BIPOC shows at Minnesota Marine Art Museum

The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is hosting three exhibitions highlighting the works of BIPOC artists examining the cultural significance of water. 

Berlin-based photographer Mustafah Abdulaziz has spent more than a decade documenting the impact of climate change on humans. His show “Water,” which runs from Friday, February 2, to June 23, looks at water access issues in Somalia, Brazil, Pakistan, China and California.

An illustration by Kao Kalia Yang’s picturebook, “The Most Beautiful Thing” by Khoa Le, featured in the exhibit “Across a Wide Ocean: Remarkable Stories about the Origins of Identity” at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Credit: Provided by Millbrook Press

“Across a Wide Ocean: Remarkable Stories about the Origins of Identity” showcases children’s picture books that delve into personal, familial, and historical narratives surrounding water. Investigative reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones and writer Renée Watson will present “The 1619 Project: Born on the Water,” a picture book illustrated by Nikkolas Smith. The show also features Minnesota author Kao Kalia Yang’s exploration of her grandmother’s journey from her Hmong homeland to the United States and Yang’s own experiences as a Hmong refugee in “The Most Beautiful Thing,” illustrated by Khoa Le.The exhibition runs from Friday, February 2, through January 5, 2025. 

“Aabijijiwan/Ukeyat yanalleh,” which means “The Water Flows Continuously” in Ojibwe and Houma, respectively, invites visitors to explore Indigenous and colonial histories intertwined by the Mississippi River. Ojibwe artist Karen Goulet and Houma artist Monique Verdin will showcase their sculptures, textiles, photographs, videos, and collages from Friday, February 2, through July 7, 2024.

Date: Various dates for different exhibitions. Find details here. 

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday.

Cost: $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors 62 and up, $5 for students. Free for children 5 and under and students on Thursdays. $1 general admission on Saturday, February 10, as part of “Winter Seasonal Saturday.” 

For more information: Visit mmam.org. 

Myah Goff is a freelance journalist and photographer, exploring the intersection of art and culture. With a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota and a previous internship at Sahan Journal,...