News: First Nations Outdoor Gallery
Chicago, IL – The First Nations Garden has introduced the First Nations Garden Outdoor Gallery.
FIRST NATIONS OUTDOOR GALLERY
The First Nations Garden Outdoor Gallery (est. 2020) comprises twelve exterior murals along N Pulaski Road’s west side of the First Nations Garden fence line. Gallery curator David Bernie has been working collaboratively with local and Native artists to reflect the demographic diversity of our city and capture how community spaces generate social and cultural interaction.
Artists are tasked to develop imagery consistent with a preferred theme/message that explores the interconnectedness of BIPOC experiences to land/Chicago.
CURATOR
David Bernie, Ihanktonwan Dakota, is the First Nations Outdoor Art Gallery curator. You can view Bernie’s work on his website, www.davidbernie.com.
ARTIST
Our Artists (in order of placement of art):
David Bernie @davidbernie.art
Laura Gomez @lago1810
Makoon Nah Mabin @hotshobangirl1995
Janie Pochel @duct_tape_moccasins
Fawn Pochel @ndn_emo_trash
Eleanor Ferguson @the.akicita.collection
Izayo Mazehualli @izayomazehualli
Jose Rodriguez @eightbitparty
Luthando Mazibuko @lmazibukoart
Teri Lopez @teri_talo
Poncho @chicago_poncho
Jacinda Bullie @jahdaampmouth
Camille Billie @Katahtu.ntha
PHOTOGRAPHS
FIRST NATIONS GARDEN
The First Nations Garden (Wiinso, Wiikonge Otishinikaaso) was established in the Spring of 2019 due to community organizing led by the Chi-Nations Youth Council with support from Alderman Carlos Rosa of the 35th Ward. Chi-Nations is working closely with Neighborspace to ensure a more sustainable future for the garden.
First Nations Garden was chosen as the English name of the space. The term First Nations is a collective noun that emphasizes the importance of direct and ancestral relationships to the land, both human and non-human. As First Nations peoples, we’ve chosen names that carry the garden site’s history and ancestral ecological knowledge and assist in providing navigational information and teachings to the greater public.
