March 25, 2023 – August 13, 2023
Artists Erin Shaw, Tony Tiger and Bobby C. Martin explore a theme rarely confronted in the art world: the practice of Christianity among Native peoples. There is and continues to be a long, rich and layered history of Native churches and Christian tradition, but there is an equally long sense of tension and conflict among tribal peoples about questions of faith. Often framed as a “Christian vs. Traditionalist” dichotomy, the real story is not nearly so clear-cut. By facing our own faith struggles and transformations through these ‘altarpieces,’ our desire is to bring about healthy discussion and awareness of how Christianity has played a historic (and continuing) role among our Native peoples, and in the bigger picture, to engage people in thinking about the role of faith in their own lives.
The Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center is hosting this traveling exhibition organized by Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA), a non-profit organization promoting the exploration of the relationship between art and faith.