Strength and Grace

Strength & Grace is an exhibition that champions the perspectives of Indigenous women through vibrant representational subjects. Paige Pettibon, Amber Spindel, and Terresa White use human and animal forms to tell the stories of their heritage and to relay real life experiences of modern native peoples. 

Paige Pettibon’s portraiture focuses on telling the stories of modern indigenous women centered in their native landscapes. With each portrait, she is able to capture the faces of the women who are integral in their communities: mothers, artists, 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 feel contemporary with an undeniable presence.

Amber Spindel’s watercolor paintings tell traditional stories wrapped in a colorful blanket that reflect significant moments of her personal life. Her fluid formline animals are rich in symbolism and steeped in traditional Coast Salish design. In many of Spindel’s pieces, the color palettes are deeply tied to the seasons in which each animal is found to thrive. This gives the viewer a snapshot of the harmony felt when connecting with those creatures in reverence. Vibrant rainbows that celebrate the energy of summer, soft blues for the quiet calm of winter. Spindel’s clean and precise techniques extend throughout all of her work, whether on paper, panel, or hide. 

Terresa White’s sculptures focus heavily on animal transformation through Yup’ik storytelling. Her works in ceramic and bronze 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. A man that seems to be wearing a raven hat upon further inspection reveals that this is no ordinary man but the maker raven turning into man. They are one, caught in a moment of significant transformation. A mother bear with her cub transitioning into a woman caring for her cub or vice-versa. 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. White is able to create sculptures that seem to want to move and transform right before our very eyes. 

These three incredible artists create works that are testaments to strength, to the natural world, and to doing so gracefully. Their messages of hope, fear, and native pride are clear, concise, and expertly executed. Strength & Grace invites you into a world where the human and animal worlds combine, creating a space for deep reflection and hopeful curiosity.

EVENT INFORMATION

During the First Thursday exhibit opening from 5-8 pm, visitors will have the exclusive opportunity to hear from Amber and Paige as they present short talks about their work at 7 pm (on February 6th).

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: