Members Preview: The Armor We Wear & Spirit House

Join us as we unveil our latest exhibitions! This exclusive preview is available to 516 ARTS membership holders only. Become a member today at https://516arts.org/support/membership/

The Armor We Wear, curated by Olivia Amaya Ortiz, The Armor We Wear asks: How do clothing and adornment transcend utility —becoming symbols of power, identity, and intent? Weaving together artworks that interlace shared and divergent narratives, cultural memory and expression, defiance and resistance. In an era of state-sanctioned censorship and conformity, dress endures as metaphor: a woven act of protest, a celebration of pride, and a resilient form of becoming.

516 ARTS also presents a solo show from multidisciplinary artist Chaz John’s (Mississippi Band Choctaw). His ongoing research-based practice into the ancient Mississippian civilization of Cahokia is articulated in Redhorn II, an homage to ancestral legacies and cultural traditions. Materials with historical roots are utilized – bronze, copper, metal and wood – alongside stock car parts. The exhibition reflects upon Chaz’s personal experiences and upbringing in the midwest by juxtaposing the culture of dirt track racing alongside Cahokian hierarchical social systems. In both cases, he remarks humorously upon the notion of “spectacle” and draws parallels to the rise and fall of modern and historical societies alike.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher 516 ARTS