The Schaefer Gallery is presenting Dakota Digital Artist Marlena Myles, as a part of the Indigenous Salon, visual arts and public discussion events. Myles’ works will be installed daily, leading up to their artist talk on Dec. 5th, 5 p.m.. During this time, the public is invited to participate in the process of an installation as well as meet Marlena Myles and discuss the ideas behind their artwork.
Over the course of this semester, Marlena Myles, a Native American Spirit Lake Dakota/Mohegan/Muscogee artist, has been participating in an artist residency here at Gustavus Adolphus College. Gustavus recently received a grant from the College’s President’s Council on Indigenous Relations to encourage building experiences and relationships with native groups and individuals. This residency will help emphasize the importance of recognizing the history of the land Gustavus resides on.
“An important impact of this residency would include the Gustavus community continuing to learn effective ways to validate the multiple perspectives of this region’s past, as well as build on these ideas to create proactive educational experiences in relation to regional native communities,” says Nicholas Darcourt, Studio and Visual Arts Professor at Gustavus.
Through the residency, Marlena will participate in class visits and interviews, hold open drop-in discussion times, explore local historical sites, have public dialogue lectures, and invite guest lecturers. Marlena will also work on a creative public artwork, and an exhibition will be held in the Schaefer Art Gallery.
“Growing up I never really saw anything that showed that Minneapolis or Minnesota was Dakota homelands, and as an adult, I wanted to create work that changes that and teaches more about our culture and history before European arrival” Myles explains. Marlena’s ability to creatively express her native culture in a way that speaks to each individual person differently is a gift, not only to Gustavus and its homeland but to many indigenous lands throughout Minnesota.
Faculty Director for Student Academic Success, Elizabeth Kubak, says “It’s important, in this residency, to acknowledge both our settler history, and the fact that we are on what was historically indigenous homeland.”
Myles highlights that it is important to have these conversations to honor indigenous knowledge and connect with their own culture as well. “The main goal of this residency is to celebrate the enduring beauty and joy of indigenous culture which is all around us.” Kubak also adds.
A public reception will be held on Dec. 5th from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The exhibition will be open to the public until December 14.