"The Land You Stand On" Contemporary Art of Native and Indigenous Identity

Description

Join us for the opening of The Land You Stand On: Contemporary Art of Native and Indigenous Identity, with a performance by Indira Urrutia. Join the Lyman Allyn Art Museum for the exhibition opening reception of The Land You Stand On: Contemporary Art of Native and Indigenous Identity, featuring a special art performance and demonstration by Indira Urrutia. With powerful and visionary works of art, The Land You Stand On celebrates cultural beauty and explores the deep connections between land, place, and identity in the work of contemporary Native and Indigenous artists. Centering Indigenous expression and perspectives, the exhibition extends beyond geographic and cultural borders to challenge older frameworks and colonial boundaries. Through art and programming, the exhibition encourages meaningful engagement with the history and ongoing presence of Indigenous and Native communities. Featuring the work of Julia Buffalohead Aymar Ccopacatty Joshua Carter Renee Castro Felicia Galbadon Guido Garaycochea Julia Marden Marianne Nicolson Indira Urrutia Brook Waldron Co-curated by Brooke Waldron, Cedar Nation, Kristine Holohan, Pattagansett Art Center, and the Lyman Allyn Art Museum. The exhibition opening reception will feature a special performance by artist Indira Urrutia. Indira Urrutia Zúñiga presents a participatory performance that centers on the body as a site of tension, memory, and Indigenous relation. The work begins with the artist dressed in black and wearing a hand knitted metal-wire sculpture, a wearable form that functions as a second skin. This piece creates an ongoing contradiction: it restricts the body while also offering a sense of protection. It holds the body within a fragile structure that suggests both containment and care, making visible the coexistence of vulnerability and endurance. Through body, sound, thread, and collective action, the performance creates a shared space for reflection on Indigenous identity, land, memory, and the importance of sustaining relationships across generations. It is both intimate and communal, a work that speaks through material presence, embodied experience, and participatory exchange. Free for Museum Members. Donations are otherwise appreciated for the exhibition reception. Light hors d'oeuvres and wine will be served. All ages are welcome. The performance will take place halfway through the reception. . . . Support is generously provided by Art Bridges and the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut.