Stitched in Sovereignty Exhibition in Taos
21st Century Hatchet Woman by Shelby Rowe
Stitched in Sovereignty Contemporary Beadwork from Indigenous North America, curated by Dr. Chelsea Herr, is up until November 28, 2020 at the Couse-Sharp Historic Site in Taos, NM. It highlights how Indigenous peoples maintain control of their own cultures, social and governing systems, belief and knowledge systems, and relationships with other sovereign groups.
Shelby is featured along with artists Molly Murphy Adams (Lakota descent), Katherine Boyer (Métis), Brit Ellis (Onondaga), and Kellen Trenal Lewis (Nez Perce).
The artists challenge the viewer to consider how sovereignty extends beyond the strictly political definition—to include cultural, intellectual, spiritual, and individual components. Some pieces reference different communities’ fights to retain their land and resource relationships; others address the relationships between Native nations and settler governments. Several artists highlight the adaptability of Indigenous cultures as an expression of cultural and social sovereignty.
Prints are available of this piece on Shelby’s store.