The Washington State History Museum celebrated the opening of the 20th annual IN THE SPIRIT Contemporary Native Arts exhibition with a reception and awards ceremony.
This year’s exhibition features artwork from 30 Native artists representing 27 Tribes from across the nation. The showcase features a diverse array of artworks, including paintings, carvings, weaving, quillwork, sculpture, photography, multimedia, and digital art.
Dan Friday (Lummi Nation) won “Best in Show” for his blown glass and cedar bark rope piece, Sxwole Anchor. “Symbolically, an anchor represents security and foundation,” said Friday. “Coast Salish people have endured a complete shift in their world over the past two hundred years. The turbulent meeting of two cultures has displaced and set adrift the people of the Salish Sea.”
Linley B. Logan (Onondowaga, also known as Seneca Nation) received the “Honoring the Ancestors” award for his modern interpretation of a traditional sculpture, Contemporary Bird Stone Effigy in Flight. “When I returned home for our Midwinter ceremonies this past January, my neighbor shared that he found a bird stone effigy in the Tonawanda Creek,” said Logan. “Proof that pre-contact bird stone effigies existed in my home community.”
Ashley Frantz (Makah) won the “Honoring Innovation” award for her video projection piece Confluent, featuring footage of waves at Cape Flattery on the Makah reservation. “We are of the water, and it is our responsibility to care for it,” said Frantz. “This projection demonstrates the connection between Indigenous women and the tides, the waters, the moon, and our role in rematriation; our responsibility to be reciprocal with the land.”
Carol Emarthle Douglas (Northern Arapaho – Seminole) was awarded “Spirit of the Northwest” for her woven basket, Salmon’s Journey. “This intricately woven basket tells the story of the sockeye salmon’s life cycle, a journey of resilience and renewal,” said Douglas. “The design flows with the rhythm of their voyage, culminating at the top with the skeletal remains, representing the completion of their journey and their vital contribution to the next generation.”
Holli Margell (Eastern Shawnee Tribe) won a “Purchase” for her multimedia portrait, Ancestor Joy. “Exploring joy, community and symbolism through nature brought this to life,” said Margell. “I chose to create long braids using Corkscrew Willow branches harvested from a neighbor to represent Wisdom and Pride as a Native Woman.”
Liz Chikayaasix̂ Morrow (Unangax̂) received a “Purchase Prize” for her linoleum relief print, Haanux̂ Lessons. “I can listen to myself and trust the messages from my intuition, just like the Sockeye Salmon/Haanux̂,” said Morrow. “We all need this Haanux̂ Lesson as we fight for our dignity and rights as human beings.”
Carly Feddersen (Colville Confederated Tribes) was a “Purchase Prize” recipient for her traditional Plateau twined basket featuring a long-legged spider motif, titled Big Spiders.
Shana Yellow Calf (Northern Arapaho) was awarded a “Purchase Prize” for her painting, Warpath Drummers.
This year’s jury was organized by s’gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ: House of Welcome at The Evergreen State College, one of the founding partners of IN THE SPIRIT. The jury members for 2025 included Laura VerMeulen, Joe Seymour, Jr., Mary Kummer, and Alexis Xochihua.
Each year, the Washington State History Museum works closely with a Native Advisory Committee to shape the exhibition and the accompanying IN THE SPIRIT Arts Market & Northwest Native Festival.
The free community festival, held on August 9 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, celebrates Native arts and culture. It features an artisan vendor market, food, art, demonstrations, fashion show, interactive activities, and free admission to the Washington State History Museum, Tacoma Art Museum, and Museum of Glass. Headlining the festival will be Black Belt Eagle Scout, with performances by LOZEN, Rona Yellow Robe, The Alaska Kuteeyaa Dancers, and Blue Flamez.
Get all the details for IN THE SPIRIT Contemporary Native Arts exhibition and festival at InTheSpiritArts.org.