The Northeastern United States indigenous citizens are the Abenaki, Maliseet, Micmac, Penobscot, and Passamaquoddy, collectively make up the Wabanaki Confederacy. They are also known as "People of the Dawnland." As members of a global community, we are all people of the land. With the growing climate crisis and its reverberations in our societies, we bear witness to how the land fights back. Indigo Arts Alliance and Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens commissioned the work of Anna Tsouhlarakis and Shane Perley-Dutcher to envision and create a permanent public art piece that amplifies Indigenous wisdom, artistry, and presence. This year’s 2024 symposium and public art commissions, will focus on environmental justice in urban and rural spaces and why it is critical that Black and Brown experiences and knowledge be centered. The work will unpack methods of reparative justice and challenge systems in place today. Witnessing through the lens of scholars, artists, historians and members of our community, we will honor our collective wisdom and forge new ways to be in harmony with the land known as Maine and beyond. Participants will have an opportunity to learn actionable steps that they can take to help create a better world. SCHEDULE 10 - 11:30 am: Morning Panel Themes: Environmental justice in urban and rural spaces and why BIPOC experiences must be centered. 12 - 1 pm: Lunch (meal included in registration) 1 - 2:30 pm: Artist Talk IAA Artists-in-Residence and commissioned artists, Shane Perley-Dutcher and Anna Tsouhlarakis, present their work. 2:30 - 4:30 pm: Art Activations These art sessions allow participants to dive deeper. 5-5:30 pm: Closing Remarks ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES Anna Tsouhlarakis received her BA from Dartmouth College with degrees in Native American Studies and Studio Art. She went on to receive her MFA from Yale University in Sculpture. Tsouhlarakis has participated in various art residencies including Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Yaddo, and was the Andrew W. Mellon Artist-in-Residence at Colorado College for the 2019-2020 academic year. Tsouhlarakis’s work has been part of national and international exhibitions at venues such as NEON Foundation in Athens, Greece; White Frame in Basel, Switzerland; Rush Arts in New York; the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto; the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art; the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts; the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art; the National Museum of the American Indian; the National Portrait Gallery; and a recent solo exhibition at MCA Denver. She is a Creative Capital Award recipient for 2021. Other awards include fellowships from the Harpo Foundation, the Eiteljorg Museum, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation, and most recently, the Louis Comfort Tiffany Award. Tsouhlarakis is an Assistant Professor in the Art and Art History Department at the University of Colorado Boulder. She is Greek, Creek, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. Shane Perley-Dutcher is a Wolastoq mixed media artist from the Neqotkuk Wolasqiyik (Tobique First Nation) in New Brunswick. He trained at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, earning a Diploma in Natives Art Studies and Jewellery Manufacturing. Shane draws his design inspiration from Wolastoqiyik traditional knowledge and contemporary aesthetics. Shane uses natural materials such as birch, cedar, spruce, ash, copper, silver, gold and platinum to create unique lines of jewelry and one-of-a-kind sculptures. Shane gathers his traditional materials for his art because it maintains his connection to the land, and entails an important part of his creative journey. Notice: Photography on Premises Please be advised that upon entering our premises, you may be subject to photography or videography. By entering, you acknowledge and consent to potentially being photographed or filmed for promotional, marketing, or security purposes. We strive to create an environment that captures the essence of our space and the experiences within it. These visuals may be used on our website, social media channels, promotional materials, or for internal documentation. Your presence signifies acceptance of being included in such media content. If you have any concerns regarding this policy, please feel free to reach out to our staff for further clarification. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.