arnaq, hana’ack, smɁem features the work of four Indigenous women artists – Jennifer Angaiak Wood, Savannah LeCornu, Paige Pettibon, and Tammie Dupuis. The title of the exhibit means “women” and is representative of their tribal backgrounds of Yup’ik, Tsimshian, Confederated Salish and Kootenai. The artists aim to visually explore and share their unique experiences as Indigenous women, across a diverse range of mediums including painting, carving, and beadwork. Each piece in the exhibit is infused with personal perspective as well as cultural symbolism. Overall, the work speaks to the resilience of Indigenous communities and is a testament to the enduring legacy of Indigenous art.  

With this exhibit, Columbia City Gallery joins a growing movement to elevate and celebrate the art and culture of Indigenous peoples in the Pacific Northwest. The exhibit was curated by Kari Karsten, Gallery Manager and a member of the Seneca Nation. Before coming to the Gallery, Kari curated Indigenous Matrix: Northwest Women Printmakers at Seattle Art Museum as part of her master’s thesis project with the University of Washington.

Opening reception with the artists: Saturday, May 6, 5-7pm

About the artists
Jennifer Angaiak Wood is Yup’ik, Irish, and Italian. She was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Yup’ik side of her family is from Tununak, Alaska, and she spent summers there with her family. Her experiences there greatly inform her artistic expression, and her focus is on carving masks from that region. Learn more at yupikjen.com. 

 Savannah LeCornu is part of the Tsimshian (Wolf Clan), Haida, Athabascan, Nez Perce tribes, and First Nations Nisga’a. Savannah is a self-taught artist originally from Ketchikan, Alaska, currently living in Bellingham. She is also a theatre artist and has worked with Mount Baker Theatre and Western Washington University. Learn more at savannahlecornu.weebly.com. 

Paige Pettibon is Black, White, and Salish (from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes). Paige is based in Tacoma and her work across multiple mediums has been shown at the Tacoma Art Museum, the Smithsonian, and art galleries in the Puget Sound region. Learn more at paigepettibon.com. 

Tammie Dupuis is a person of dual heritage. Her father was a member of the Bitterroot Salish and Q’lispe tribes and her maternal grandparents were white settlers, arriving on the reservation in the early 1920s. Tammie’s art is intercultural; its themes and processes are situated between her Indigenous and non-Indigenous heritages. Learn more at dupuiscreative.com. 

Exhibit made possible in part thanks to funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and Seattle Foundation