From an exhibit of Native American art to free festivals and concerts through the Bay Area and Sarah McLachlan paying homage to “Fumbling Toward Ecstasy,” there are a lot of great shows, concerts and exhibits in the Bay Area to catch this weekend and beyond. Here is a partial rundown. For too long, stories about Native Americans have been told by non-Native people, whether in movies, TV shows, books or the visual arts.
That’s not the case with “Re-Discovering Native America: Stories in Motion with The Red Road Project,” a stunning exhibition of photos at Walnut Creek’s Bedford Gallery through June 23, or with a panel discussion this Saturday featuring leading Native American artists, including Oakland novelist Tommy Orange. The exhibition showcases some 100 photos, personal stories and other artworks, collected by Red Road Project founders, Danielle SeeWalker and Carlotta Cardana. The photos document the lives of contemporary Native Americans, from the sweeping landscapes of remote reservations to their living rooms in towns and cities, as they celebrate their communities, traditional practices and achievements, or give voice to the ongoing challenges of historic displacement and oppression.
SeeWalker also joins “There There” author Orange in the panel discussion as they talk about their inspiration and creative process. Rounding out the panel are: Tazbah Chavez, co-creator of the FX series “Reservation Dogs”; and moderator Jackie Keliiaa, a comedian, writ.