An exhibition of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) Red Regalia Project created with Chicago-based Native artist Angel Starr (Omaha, Odawa, Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota) to call attention to violence against Indigenous Peoples will kick off the 2024-2025 Native North American Artist Residency. The exhibition will be on view through April 11. Reception in Link Gallery.
With support from the Native North-American Artist Residency Consortium (Allerton, American Indian Studies, the School of Art & Design, Humanities Research Institute, Krannert Art Museum, and the Native American House), Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Office for Arts Integration, and Illinois Arts Council Agency.
"MMIR (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives), initially referred to as the MMIW (Women) crisis, is a national crime pattern of disproportionate murder and missing cases of Indigenous peoples in the United States that has been ongoing for centuries. The crisis is a result of many forces, one being the failure of the U.S. to protect Indigenous relatives, paired with the lack of resources for Native Nations to provide justice and victim services.
In a remarkable initiative led by the Native American House, the spirit of creativity and awareness converged to spotlight the pressing crisis of violence against Indigenous Peoples. For two inspiring weeks (she's here for one week, like last year), Chicago-based Native artist Angel Starr (Omaha, Odawa, Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota) led participants through a tactile journey of remembrance. The focus of this unique residency was the creation of traditional red regalia, red ribbon skirts, and red ribbon shirts, symbolic expressions of cultural creativity and respect. Angel Starr returns to campus Sunday, April 6 – Saturday, April 12, in celebration of the exhibition. During her residency, she will lead a four-day series of red-beaded earring-making workshops for the campus community. These items will become part of the Red Regalia collection and will be used to raise awareness of MMIR."
—Charlotte E. Davidson, Native American House Director, and David Eby, Doctoral Student in Information Sciences and Native American House Ambassador
Program begins at 6 pm and features brief commentary from Director of Native American House, Dr. Charlotte E. Davidson (Diné/Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation); Director of Krannert Art Museum, Jon Seydl; Executive Associate Director of the School of Art & Design, Melissa Pokorny; and Native North American Artist-in-Residence, Angel Starr (Omaha, Odawa, Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota).
