EAST LANSING, Mich. — The East Lansing Arts Commission has partnered with (SCENE) Metrospace to bring Native American artist Keith Secola Jr. and his amazing artwork to the East Lansing community.
Community members are invited to attend the opening of an art exhibition featuring Secola’s work this Friday, Feb. 21 at (SCENE) Metrospace, 110 Charles St., at which the artist will be present. There will be an artist talk and demonstration from 5-7 p.m. and a reception at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to all members of the public.
The exhibition will be on display at (SCENE) Metrospace through March 27, at which time the City of East Lasing will purchase one of Secola’s paintings for its public art collection using Percent for Art funds.
“We are so honored to be able to bring an artist of this caliber to East Lansing to share his unprecedented artwork with the community, which has been deeply influenced by his Northern Ute and Anishinaabe heritage,” said East Lansing Art Commissioner Tedda Hughes, J.D. “We encourage community members to visit (SCENE) Metrospace this Friday to meet and hear from the artist himself.”
About the Artist
Oakland, Calif.-based artist Keith Secola, Jr.’s work focuses on both the historical and contemporary aspects of Native American life in modern times gathered from the culture and traditions from his Northern Ute and Ojibwe tribal identity. He holds a Master of Fine Arts from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco, Calif. and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, N.M. Secola’s work has been exhibited at various galleries and shows in California, New Mexico, Colorado, Minnesota, North Dakota and Missouri.
Here is an excerpt from the artist’s statement that is published on his website:
“Shaped by American Indian policies throughout my life, I use my visual language to transmit Native voices, identities and stories that may have been stripped or stolen throughout American history. My work materializes in an interdisciplinary arts practice, ranging from installation, prints and murals. I gather my knowledge from both my Northern Ute and Anishinaabe heritage to drive the content of my work. Not forgetting those sacred ceremonies before me, but to grow as an artist with them, without fully assimilating to western society, but truly existing in two worlds.”
Community members can learn more about the artist at https://www.keithsecolajr.com/. For more information about (SCENE) Metrospace, including exhibition hours, visit http://www.art.msu.edu/galleries/scene/.
Photo Credit: Amelia Berumen