Livermore, CA -- A new, powerful exhibit "The Artists Among Us: Native People Today" will be on display at the Bankhead Art Gallery featuring art from artists of Native descent. The artists for the exhibit are from the Bay Area and beyond, representing different tribes and all visually representing their life experiences as Native artists. One notable work, "First Contact," is a piece being borrowed from the California Indian Heritage Center Foundation, which is a large original artwork by Alicia Maria Siu, Antonio Moreno, Vicente Moreno, and Vicente Teoxiutleko Moreno. The public is invited to experience this notable piece and more at the Bankhead Art Gallery in Downtown Livermore.

Working with Mary Puthoff from the Livermore American Indian Center, Livermore Valley Arts reached out to Native artists with the idea of bringing an exhibit that tells the story that Native people are here and around us and that most have a keen artistic sense, some creating art in formal manners such as oil on canvas and others incorporating artistic sensibility in their craft and everyday lives. This exhibit aims to bring art that represents Native culture in all of its contemporary forms, such as witnessed in pieces such as "Stay in Touch" by John Balloue and "Big River Scene" by California Native Glass.

The Bankhead Art Gallery is located in the lobby of the Bankhead Theater. "The Artists Among Us: Native People Today " is free and open to enjoy by ticketed patrons during performances, and by the general public Thursdays through Sundays 1pm-5pm, beginning Thursday, June 2. There will be an opening reception and Native culture celebration, in conjunction with the Livermore American Indian Center, on Saturday, June 4 from 1pm-4pm that is also free and open to the public, and will not only exhibit this moving artwork by Native artists, but will also be a true celebration of Native culture: There will be powwow dancers and live musicians on the Bankhead Plaza stage - colorful and dramatic, the dancers will demonstrate many dances and showcase their regalia. In addition, there will be a tipi maker in front of the Bankhead that will be presenting an educational talk and demonstration on the tradition of tipi building and its close association with the arts and the many aspects behind the customs of creating these artistic dwellings. Livermore Valley Arts is also honored to have East Coast indigenous storyteller Dovie Thomason, known for her stories of First Nations (www.goartivate.org/artist/dovie-thomason), also making an appearance at the June 4 event. Thomason will paint a picture of her own richly textured family story, and reflect on the value of storytelling in transmitting cultural memory, the importance of how to listen, and the role stories can, and do, play in making sense of the world in which we live. Besides Thomason in the Bankhead Gallery Lobby, vendors also will be on site around the Bankhead, creating a fun and informative event. The public is invited to share in this powerful exhibit and opening reception, performance, and activities, to honor the Native peoples on whose land we live.

Dates: June 2 - July 31, 2022
Times: Thursdays-Sundays, 1pm-5pm,
Tickets: Free

Opening Reception
Date/Time: Saturday, June 4, 1pm-4pm
Tickets: Free

Venue:
Bankhead Theater Gallery
2400 First Street
Livermore, CA 94550

Dates, times, and ticket prices for other events available at www.LivermoreArts.org.

For more details https://livermorearts.org/visual-arts-2/.