Art in Oregon presents The Stone Path, a traveling exhibition showcasing the work of Natalie Ball, Demian DineYazhi, Vanessa Enos, Ka'ila Farrell-Smith, Lillian Pitt, Wendy Red Star, Jeremy Red Star Wolf, and Marie Watt.  Through their common connections as former artists in residence at Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts (CSIA) and Oregon-based artists with Native American tribal heritage, this exhibition presents select permanent collection fine art prints from the artists’ residencies alongside artworks representing their studio practice.  Curated by Art in Oregon Selena Jones, Owen Premore, and Tammy Jo Wilson.

The Stone Path celebrates eight remarkable indigenous artists whose artistry expands our understanding of Oregon’s communities, cultures, and histories.  The exhibition title references the flat stones used in lithography, a fine art printmaking process ingeniously represented in Crow’s Shadow Permanent Art Collection. During their residencies artists work closely with CSIA’s master printmaker towards realizing limited-edition prints that strive to capture the artist’s unique vision through innovative augmentation and invention. CSIA residency prints are highly regarded and collected throughout the world.  The exhibition will showcase additional art pieces from participating artists in complement and juxtaposition to their fine art prints. 

Art in Oregon is a Black-led, statewide visual arts focused 501(c)(3) non-profit working to build bridges between artists and communities. The mission of Art in Oregon is to foster culturally rich regional communities through partnerships, advocacy, and investment in artists, businesses, educational spaces, and community spaces.  Our goal is to build and sustain art patronage through pride in Oregon artists and pride in art ownership.  We work to establish collaborative relationships with the common goal of increased visibility and access to art for all people.

Crow’s Shadow is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization formed in 1992 by local artists James Lavadour (Walla Walla) and Phillip Cash Cash (Cayuse and Nez Perce). CSIA’s mission is to provide a creative conduit for educational, social, and economic opportunities for Native Americans through artistic development. Over the last 30 years, Crow’s Shadow has evolved into a world-class studio focused on contemporary fine art printmaking. 

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To Demian DinéYazhi, Art in Oregon, and each of the artists in The Stone Path,

Your work is beautiful, thought provoking, and bold.

The Chehalem Cultural Center’s community is fraught with charged emotion. Over the last two years the organization, staff, and board have become the target of troubling attacks with increasing frequency and growing aggression. In the last several weeks the circumstances surrounding our galleries have changed drastically in ways we failed to predict and prepare for. There is no apology that can excuse the removal of work from our gallery. We, however, offer our complete and unqualified apology. 

To Demian, we apologize for removing your work and for the harm it causes you.

To Tammy, Owen, and Selena, we apologize for altering your show and for the hurt it causes you.

To the artists in the show, we apologize for the pain the removal of Demian’s work causes you.

To your communities and to ours, we apologize we could not bring you together in understanding and for the sorrow it causes you.

The Chehalem Cultural Center’s central mission is to “connect community and culture” and in this moment we have failed that mission. We have great personal anguish over this failure. We carry this collapse forward with us and in it seek bravery and strength on the path of better understanding ourselves and healing our community. The course of our lives are irrevocably altered by the impact of The Stone Path.

Thank you.