Thanks to a friend, I recently had the chance to see the Hearts of Our People exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The exhibit includes pieces that stretch from hundreds of years ago to the present.

The art on display was incredibly diverse, ranging from beading and basket-work to more conceptual installations.

Below is a tapestry (2009) by Ramona Sakiestewa that blends Hopi weaving traditions with the inspiration produced by photos from the Hubble Space Telescope. I love the blending and juxtaposition of ancient technologies with modern space imaging technologies.

Also on display was a spread from Louise Erdrich’s journal, displayed along with her poem, “Advice to Myself.”

Women have long been the creative force behind Native art. Presented in close cooperation with top Native women artists and scholars, this first major exhibition of artwork by Native women honors the achievements of over 115 artists from the United States and Canada spanning over 1,000 years. Their triumphs—from pottery, textiles, and painting, to photographic portraits, to a gleaming El Camino—show astonishing innovation and technical mastery.