The Art of Oika - Nantucket
Four Oika Artists and an ecologist set out to create an experience unified by their aim to heal people, place and planet. The blend of scientific insights and artistic expressions in this exhibition are as diverse as the contributors’ individual origin stories. Each artist brings their own context, experience and sensitivity to the art. Together, their work culminates in a co-creative community event at the Maria Mitchell Association. These works are guided by deep ecological principles found within the nature and culture of Nantucket. This is a human expression of listening and learning that we hope plants the seeds of re-membering our selves in connection to one another and planet Earth.
love is a place
& through this place of love move (with brightness of peace) all places
yes is a world
& in this world of yes live (skilfully curled) all worlds
-- E. E. Cummings
Date:
June 15 - July 12, 2023
Place:
Maria Mitchell Gallery
33 Washington St.
Nantucket MA
Workshops & Events:
See PDF below
The Artists
Rita Leduc is an interdisciplinary artist. Her visual research on Nantucket explores the changes in character of the color gray as it traverses from the Grey Lady’s port and downtown area to the forests and moors; an investigation into what can be unearthed in an ecosystem’s “gray areas.” Her workshop at the MMA will complement an Oika fo
Rita Leduc is an interdisciplinary artist. Her visual research on Nantucket explores the changes in character of the color gray as it traverses from the Grey Lady’s port and downtown area to the forests and moors; an investigation into what can be unearthed in an ecosystem’s “gray areas.” Her workshop at the MMA will complement an Oika for Artists course, offering ways to directly engage and co-create with place.
Dakota Clearwater Lacroix works in sound, video, storytelling, and installation. He is focused on rediscovering “Poetics of Place”. While in residency he is rethinking and relating to the nature, history and culture of Nantucket. His MMA workshop will focus on exploring radical listening and the “Energetics of Place through Poetics of Sounds”.
Dena Haden works in installation and fiber art in an attempt to embody the ebb and flow of life cycles and the residue they leave in passing. Through the intentional act of collecting, growing and building organic materials, she creates moments in time to honor nature. Haden’s Nantucket workshop will share her practice as a way to connec
Dena Haden works in installation and fiber art in an attempt to embody the ebb and flow of life cycles and the residue they leave in passing. Through the intentional act of collecting, growing and building organic materials, she creates moments in time to honor nature. Haden’s Nantucket workshop will share her practice as a way to connect through native materials and notice a shared state of awareness.
Robert Peters is a Mashpee Wampanoag artist, writer, fire keeper and keeper of indigenous oral traditions. His body of work reflects life and nature from an indigenous perspective. He believes that in the telling of our stories through art, words and actions we take back a measure of power that people have given away. Robert has used hi
Robert Peters is a Mashpee Wampanoag artist, writer, fire keeper and keeper of indigenous oral traditions. His body of work reflects life and nature from an indigenous perspective. He believes that in the telling of our stories through art, words and actions we take back a measure of power that people have given away. Robert has used his art, ideas and writings to help combat addiction among indigenous people. He introduced the use of the traditional stomp dance to be performed at powwows in dedication to the families impacted by addiction. Robert is organizing a stomp dance on Nantucket that invites public participation in the healing process.
The Art of Oika is a group show of four artists curated by MMA’s scientist-in-residence, Dr. Rich Blundell. Oika refers to the intelligence of nature as felt by humans. Working in collaboration with each other and the habitats of Nantucket, each artist in this exhibition embodies the deep ecological principles of Oika in their own unique and intimate way.