Weaving Words, Weaving Worlds:
The Power of Indigenous Language in Contemporary Art
July 17 - December 12, 2025
EVENTS:
Opening Reception: Sunday, July 20, 5-7 pm. Featuring a drum processional by Jeffrey Pegram.
Additional events to be announced.
Artists: Broken Boxes / Ginger Dunnill, David Bunn Martine, Tecumseh Ceaser, Jeremy Dennis, Demian DinéYazhi', Chiara (Sunshine) Do’wal Sehi, Korina Emmerich, First Literature Project (Wunetu Tarrant), Erin Genia, Cannupa Hanska Luger, Jamie John, Brittany Kiertzner, Ella Mahoney, New Red Order, Jaune Quick-To-See Smith, Heather Rogers, Cara Romero, Denise Silva-Dennis, Anna Tsouhlarakis, Gianni VV, Kay WalkingStick, Kris Waymire, Anangookwe Wolf.
Curated by Jeremy Dennis (Shinnecock Nation)
Weaving Words, Weaving Worlds brings together the powerful connection between Indigenous languages and contemporary art. The group exhibition of over twenty artists highlights the significance of language revitalization and preservation through the creative expressions of national and regional Indigenous artists. Work in traditional and new media explores how art can become a vessel for cultural continuity, storytelling, and the reclamation of Indigenous tongues.
The exhibition is guest-curated by SBU alumnus Jeremy Dennis (Shinnecock Nation) in partnership with the Zuccaire Gallery. Artist talks, curator tours, receptions, and events will be scheduled, and there will be an exhibition catalog.
The exhibition aims to bridge the gap between Indigenous languages, particularly Algonquian/Shinnecock, and the broader public, emphasizing their transformative power. By integrating language into visual art, the show will convey the beauty of Indigenous languages and their cultural and spiritual significance.
The exhibition will tackle historical and contemporary contexts, including the loss of language due to colonization and forced assimilation, and the resurgence of efforts to bring these languages back in the 21st century. References to key historical moments, such as the Natick Bible translated into Algonquian, recordings by Thomas Jefferson, and the overlooked meanings of traditional place names on Long Island, will form part of the narrative.