“While forces of colonization sought to dismantle our cultures and life ways throughout history, indigenous womxn thwarted this effort – not only surviving but asserting our identities at every turn.” As visitors enter the El Segundo Museum of Art’s newest exhibit, “Matriarchs,” they are presented with this powerful statement that sets the stage for the empowering works of art featured throughout the exhibit.
“Matriarch” contains numerous multimedia works that create engaging contrast from one work of art to the next, and represents a variety of Indigenous communities, particularly Indigenous women, that are often overlooked, as they work to improve the way they are treated on a daily basis.
Put together by two Indigenous curators, Kristen Dorsey of the Chickasaw Nation, and Jaclyn Roessel of the Diné, “Matriarchs” features the works of 12 different Indigenous artists, four of whom belong to communities originating in California.
“Matriarchs” documents the issues that Indigenous groups and women within these groups face, and the resulting movements working to solve them, such as spreading awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women across the United States and Canada.
The exhibit features numerous mediums including photography, basket-weaving and sculpture. In addition to providing a captivating variety, these different mediums capture each artist’s unique methods of expression, such as Jamie Okuma’s “Beaded Boots,” a pair of boots featuring intricate patterns of beadwork.
The term “womxn” is used in the exhibit’s introduction instead of “women,” emphasizing the independence of the artists and subjects featured in the exhibit. This spelling choice both promotes inclusivity among all those who may not feel that they conform to the textbook definition of a woman, as well as removes the idea that women are derived from men, as the word can suggest. This relatively new idea provides a unique and inclusive perspective idea that shows the way that language can shift in accordance with social changes.
Matika Wilbur’s “Together We Rise, Isabella and Alyssa Klain, Diné” features an image of two young Diné girls raising their arms against a cloudy sky, and perfectly encapsulates the message behind “Matriarchs.” The image is powerful and inspiring, and resonates with the empowering sentiment that is present throughout the exhibit.
Featuring thirty-one unique forms of art, “Matriarchs” shows the talents of twelve Indigenous artists of different backgrounds working to change the world around them with their empowering and perspective-shifting art.
Admission to “Matriarchs” is free, and the exhibit will be available for viewing until Jan. 26. The El Segundo Museum of Art is located at 208 Main Street in El Segundo.
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