Strength and Grace

Strength & Grace is an exhibition that champions the perspectives of Indigenous women through vibrant representational subjects. Paige Pettibon (Confederated Salish, Kootenai, Black), Amber Spindel (Port Gamble S’Klallam), and Terresa White (Yup’ik, mixed European ancestry) explore subjects from the various worlds—human, animal, and nature—to tell the stories of cultural heritage and ancestry, inspired both by historic pieces as well as contemporary experiences.

Paige Pettibon’s portraiture focuses on telling the stories of modern Indigenous women centered in their native landscapes. With each portrait, the souls of her painted subjects emanate forth from women who are mothers, daughters, artists, authors, activists, and leaders. With vibrant colors and precise brushstrokes, she is able to not only create their likeness, but also their confidence and pride. We see their vulnerability and their hope. The viewer can revel in the details of the tribal regalia just as deeply as the pebbles on the beach below their feet. Pettibon seamlessly stitches together the personalities of her subjects and her own deep appreciation of the landscape to create paintings that pay homage to identity.

Amber Spindel’s watercolor paintings convey stories that reflect significant moments in her personal life as well as stories that have been passed down through her family for generations, while in many cases seeming to be quiet conversations with nature. Her subjects can be simultaneously rich in symbolism and steeped in tradition, while also effervescent and transitory. In many of Spindel’s pieces, the color palettes are deeply tied to the seasons in which each creature is found in harmony, connection, and reverence—vibrant rainbows that celebrate the energy of summer, soft blues for the quiet calm of winter. Spindel’s clean lines and precise techniques as well as an overall ethereal softness are signatures of her work.

Terresa White’s sculptures focus heavily on animal transformation through Yup’ik storytelling. This newest series of ceramic masks was created as a reimagining of historic Yup’ik masks that have inspired her and influenced her work. White’s sculptures embody the moments of the in-between; she expertly captures the liminal and magical qualities of transition. Each of White’s pieces is more than it appears at first glance. White is able to create sculptures that seem to want to move and transform right before our very eyes. There is a symbiosis and power to these creatures that remind us we humans are not so different from the rest of life on this planet.

These three incredible artists create works that are testaments to strength, to grace, and the natural world. Strength & Grace invites you into a place where human and animal worlds combine, creating a space for deep reflection and hopeful curiosity.

EVENT INFORMATION

Paige and Terresa will also be hosted at Stonington for an art demo day on Saturday, February 22, from 1-3 pm. This interactive session will offer insight into their creative processes and techniques. Don’t miss this chance to engage with these remarkable artists and their work!

Refreshments will be provided.

Exhibition Dates: