CHIRP’s Visibility Through Art Initiative
For the past six years, I have helped to organize, curate, and participate in this meaningful show. This project was inspired by the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe's desire to engage local artists to create artwork that authentically represented the Nisenan and their rich but nearly forgotten history here in Nevada County. The goal of the exhibit is to create conscientious art pieces that engage around the history and culture of the Original Peoples of Nevada County. This show requires continuously navigating the sensitive and real topics of cultural appropriation, privilege, and erasure, especially with many of the artists being non-Nisenan. This is not a simple journey, artists were asked to engage in deep listening to the stories and history shared with them by the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe. Together each artist collaborated individually with Tribal Members on their art pieces to create respectful and reflective works. Creating artworks that reflect the Nisenan people, culture, and history is another way to preserve and bring visibility to The Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan.
Learn more about the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan and their Non-Profit CHIRP here: chirpca.org
Visibility Through Art Website
“The artwork below was created in collaboration with the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe guided by CHIRP's Visibility Through Art (VTA) Initiative. This intentional and informed collaboration includes hours of consultation with the Tribe and each year a theme is produced to best address their visibility needs. VTA is intended to generate Cultural awareness and build understanding about the Nisenan through art.”