Preoccupied: Indigenizing the Museum Community Day

Bring family and friends of all ages to celebrate Preoccupied: Indigenizing the Museum, a wide-ranging BMA initiative that significantly increases the presence of Native voices, experiences, and artworks across the Museum.

The afternoon festivities include performances by Uhwachi-Reh Dance Troupe, a Baltimore-based Native American dance company, and a special tour of the exhibition Dana Claxton: Spark led by the artist. Mark Tayac, Chief of the Piscataway Indian Nation, will give a tour of his work Traditional Beaver Pouch Bag (2024) included in the Preoccupied exhibition Finding Home. Learn about Native American beadwork and create a beaded wearable or jewelry in the Joseph Education Center Studio with guest artist Nina Gover Brooks. Local Native artists and organizations will be available to talk about their work and offer items for purchase. Illustrated guides to East Baltimore’s Historic American Indian “Reservation” will be available for pickup.

This program has been developed with guidance from Louis Campbell (Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina), who also served on the 10-member Community Advisory Panel for Preoccupied.

Schedule:

10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

All Museum spaces

Preoccupied: Indigenizing the Museum includes nine exhibitions, an audio guide, new displays for objects that depict Native subjects and espouse colonialist perspectives, and updated interpretive labels from Native leaders and artists on artwork throughout the museum.

1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Joseph Education Center Studio

An intro to Native American beadwork, taught by artist Nina Gover Brooks

1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Makers & Organizations in Antioch Court

Baltimore American Indian Center
Crushing Colonialism
Mary Tayac
Emilyn Bauer Burns
Nina Gover Brooks
Ebony Gray Oxendine
Andrea Medley | Xhul Creations
Raine Valentine
Sierra Waterman-Wells
University of Maryland Native American and Indigenous Student Union (NAISU)

1 p.m.

Contemporary Gallery, 2^nd Floor, Finding Home

Mark Tayac in-gallery tour

2 p.m. & 4 p.m.

Fox Court

Uhwachi-Reh Dance Troupe performance

3 - 3:20 p.m.

Prints, Drawings, and Photographs Gallery

In-gallery tour led by artist Dana Claxton