Classroom Connections: Teaching the Next Generation of Native Artists

Image: Nora Naranjo Morse (Santa Clara Pueblo). Figures, mudheads, 2000. SAR.2000-5-8A-C. Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2020 School for Advanced Research.

Leah Mata Fragua (Northern Chumash) and mentee

This event is part of the series Cultural Currents: The Role of Mentorship in Native Arts.

Mentorship in the arts has long played an important role in the continuation and growth of cultural knowledge and practice in Native communities. This year’s Native Arts Speaker Series explores the relationship between artists and their mentors and the ways in which mentorship both preserves Native Arts and provides new paths for advancement.

Join us and our esteemed speakers for conversations about the mentor-mentee relationship, the continued importance of passing on cultural knowledge, skills, and artistic practices to the next generation, and the ways mentorship continues to shape the future of both traditional and contemporary Native Arts.

All events are free to the public and take place at the School for Advanced Research. The events can also be viewed live on SAR’s YouTube channel.

Leah Mata Fragua is an artist, educator, and member of the yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini (Northern Chumash) tribe located on the Central California Coast. As a place-based artist, Leah’s kincentric approach seamlessly blends shared iconography with personal imagery, highlighting the impact each has on the other. She uses a diverse range of materials, from place-based to recycled, to explore the interconnectedness and dependence between land, kinships, and self. She understands that her art is a reflection of the way she prioritizes the protection of traditional materials and the continuation of art forms that are important to her community, which intersect with her individual practice. Leah holds a BA in anthropology, an MA in Cultural Sustainability, and an MFA from The Institute of American Indian Arts in the Studio Arts program. Leah’s work is held in the collections of the Autry Museum, Tia Collection, Denver Art Museum, The Hood Museum, and private collections.

Host or Publisher School for Advanced Research