Pat Kruse is one of few actively practicing traditional birch bark art who is learning from and teaching about his museum research in order to revive knowledge of traditional Ojibwe birch bark designs.
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Maggie Thompson
Maggie Thompson’s fiber art is relevant as the work draws upon our human emotions and is the core for the narratives that can be found in her textile designs.
Kelly Church
Kelly Church comes from a long family line of Anishnabe black ash basket makers. She is also an Art activist working to perpetuate the traditional practice before the Michigan black ash trees become extinct.
Frank Big Bear
Frank Big Bear first gained artist recognition for his colored pencil drawings, but recently made a radical shift to collage and painting, and in the process has garnered new praise for his work.
Lehua Kalima
Singer Lehua Kalima says her music is rooted in her Native Hawaiian upbringing, but her musical passion has grown into pop and folk.
Layli Long Soldier
Layli Long Soldier’s writing is keen, pensive and deliberate. She thoroughly examines the construction and deconstruction and meaning of her message in order to imbue each verse with the desired deliverance and power.
Linda Hogan
As a novelist, poet and essayist, Pulitzer nominee Linda Hogan writes with a commanding style and an introspective touch that moves readers.
James Luna
Throughout his career, performance artist James Luna’s work has rejected the general public notion of “Being an Indian.” Now he is creating a new multimedia performative and installation work that examines “cultural authenticity”.
Anna Tsouhlarakis
Anna Tsouhlarakis is a visual artist who wants her work to help redefine what Native American art is and can be.
David A. Boxley
David A. Boxley is a master carver whose intricate designs pay homage to his ancestors in order to ensure that the art form that was almost lost endures.
Stephen Qacung Blanchett
Stephen Blanchett’s musical mission is reflected in his work as a member of the band Pamyua, who are known for fusing traditional Yup’ik drum songs with contemporary sounds.
Clarissa Rizal
Clarissa Rizal nurtures her creative vision by incorporating a deeply rooted daily spiritual practice in her traditional Tlingit button blanket robes, Chilkat robes, Ravenstail robes and weavings.
Starr Kalāhiki
Starr Kalāhikis early musical influence was gospel, jazz and bossa nova. Now inspired by the poetry and songs of Queen Lili’uokalani (Hawaii’s last queen), she recently launched a performance production entitled “The Lili’u Project.”
Martha Redbone
Theater audiences are swooning over newcomer Martha Redbone. Known for her music, Redbone is ambitiously delving into theater with great success.
Abigail Romanchak
Visual artist Abigail Romanchak will create a new series of large-scale prints addressing climate change and sea levels rising due to global warming with support from NACF.
Liko Martin
Legendary songwriter Liko Martin will complete new compositions, including a rock opera, and release new recordings with support from the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation.
Kaumakaiwa Kanaka’ole
Kaumakaiwa Kanaka’ole will compose original music and choreograph new bodies of work ready to tour in 2016 with the support of an NACF Fellowship.
Robi Kahakalau
Robi Kahakalau (Native Hawaiian) will compose a collection of music and accompanying curriculum to teach Native Hawaiian pre-school age children language and heritage through music.
Bernice Akamine
Bernice Akamine is a visual artist known for the abstract glass sculptures and vessels she creates with smooth flowing lines, often covered with a form-fitted skin of texture and color.