The Marion Art Center is pleased to present its newest exhibit, Exploring Native American Culture: Art, Craft, and Inspiration, with works by Max Brown-Garcia, Makerjake and Vincent Mancini. The exhibit showcases three unique experiences of Native American culture. Brown-Garcia’s craftwork, including an eagle feather bustle, staff and regalia, offers a glimpse into his firsthand Native male perspective. Makerjake (a pseudonym for artist/educator Jacob Ginga,) descended from a large Native American family filled with indigenous craftspeople, finds himself “occupying the cultural space between his Indigenous ancestors and his traditional middle-class upbringing.” His paintings, prints, and drawings, which he sees as studies in visual culture, are also vehicles to explore the “emotionally complicated space” in which he exists. Lastly, Mancini, who is not Native, creates works inspired by Native American culture and spirituality through a process called feather lineation. The process involves delineating an image by arranging segments of cut feathers in a geometric pattern. Mancini is “particularly interested in challenging perceptions, stereotypes and expectations of Native American culture.” Mancini, along with New Bedford resident, artist and curator Jess Bregoli, were integral to bringing these artists and their works to the MAC.
The exhibit runs February 18 through March 25, with a reception scheduled on Friday, February 25 from 5:00-7:00pm at the Marion Art Center. Guests should check the MAC website for updates on in-person events, which are subject to change during local surges of COVID cases. All visitors must wear a mask while inside the Marion Art Center. Current gallery hours are Thurs-Sat 10am-2pm or other times during office hours (Tue-Fri, 10am-5pm) by calling ahead. Visit marionartcenter.org/-on-exhibit to learn more.