Register NOW to join us for our next Indigenous Art: Indigenous Minds Presentation!
Debra Yepa-Pappan and Monica Rickert-Bolter present:
Centering Native Futures in the Heart of Zhegagoynak
Register here for the online event:
https://form.jotform.com/250015444713144
Topic Description:
How do you bring Native American contemporary art to a place where Native representation has long been (and continues to be) based on generalized and racist ideas of our existence and our culture? In this presentation, co-founders of the Center for Native Futures: Debra Yepa-Pappan and Monica Rickert-Bolter, will highlight their current journey as well as their collective visions for the future of Native art and artists in a place that has always been a thriving hub of exchange.
Cost:
Free
About the Artists:
Debra Yepa-Pappan (Jemez Pueblo/Korean) is a visual artist and co-founding director of exhibitions and programs at the Center for Native Futures (CfNF), a dynamic contemporary art space in the heart of Chicago dedicated to Native artists. Through her artwork and her work at CfNF she is committed to advocating for positive representations of Native people, and providing a safe and welcoming environment for Native artists to gather, exhibit, and be in community with each other.
Monica Rickert-Bolter is a Chicago-based visual artist of Potawatomi and Black heritage. Her artwork uses traditional mediums, such as charcoal and pastels, graphic design, and digital coloring to create expressive characters and tell diverse stories. After her undergrad, Monica became involved with Native nonprofits, combining her love of art and education to develop youth programs and resources, including illustrating children’s books. She advocates for cultural representation and serves as a consultant for various institutions and organizations.
Monica is a co-founder and the Director of Operations at the Center for Native Futures, a Native fine arts gallery that opened in September 2023. Her artwork has been featured in exhibitions at The National Museum of the American Indian, The Field Museum, the University of North Carolina Stone Center, The Watershed Art & Ecology, and the Center for Native Futures. Her upcoming projects include a collaborative public art piece with the Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights and an installation at the National Public Housing Museum.
