The Detroit Institute of Arts has organized a traveling, statewide exhibition that presents the works of important Native American and First Nations women, titled Vitality and Continuity: Art in the Experiences of Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Pueblo Women, in partnership with four Michigan museums. This is one in a series of American art exhibitions created through a multi-year, multi-institutional partnership formed by the Detroit Institute of Arts as part of the Art Bridges Initiative.

A collaboration between partner museums Dennos Museum Center (Traverse City), Bonifas Arts Center (Escanaba), Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum (Saginaw), and Midland Center for the Arts (Midland), the exhibition celebrates the major roles Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Pueblo women play within their families, communities, the art world, and beyond. Rooted in contemporary and historical artworks, the exhibition examines mothering, making, art world success, spirituality, and continuity in visual culture across generations. It includes works by prominent Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Pueblo women artists, including Kenojuak Ashevak (Inuit), Kelly Church (Gun Lake Band of Potawatomi/Grand Traverse Ottawa/Chippewa descent), and Maria Martinez (San Ildefonso Pueblo), among others.

“Collaborating with four partner museums statewide, made possible with the support of the Art Bridges Foundation, we are showcasing the vital contributions of women in three diverse communities and allowing people from all across the state to become familiar with their significant and impactful work.” said curator Denene De Quintal, PhD.

Another important aspect of this partnership was working with members of the Anishinaabe, Inuit, Pueblo, and local Native American communities to provide community advice and feedback.

The exhibition includes Native American and First Nations voices and perspectives throughout, including recorded and written reflections.

The exhibition is currently on view at the Dennos through May 19. After its run at the Dennos, the exhibition will be on view at Bonifas Arts Center from May 28 through September 10, and Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum from September 22 through January 6, 2024.

Vitality and Continuity: Art in the Experiences of Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Pueblo Women is organized by the Detroit Institute of Arts, Bonifas Arts Center, Dennos Museum Center, Midland Center for the Arts, and Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum.

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), one of the premier art museums in the United States, is home to more than 65,000 works that comprise a multicultural survey of human creativity from ancient times through the 21st century. From the first Van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum (Self-Portrait, 1887), to Diego Rivera's world-renowned Detroit Industry murals (1932–33), to the first museum in the United States to have a permanent collection of galleries and a curatorial department devoted to African American art, the DIA’s collection is known for its quality, range and depth. The DIA’s mission is to create opportunities for all visitors to find personal meaning in art individually and with each other.