Visitors can take a journey through the rich historical and cultural landscape of the North Bay’s Indigenous Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo when they view the “Maakon Yomi: Our Homelands of the Coast Miwok” exhibition happening right here in Marin.
The exhibition features a diverse array of works, including intricate beadwork, basketry, paintings and clothing items, too. By displaying these pieces together in one place, the aim is to showcase the artistry of local Indigenous creators.
Artists on display include Gloria Armstrong, Joseph Byron, Henry Frank, Silver Galleto, Nicole Jones, Robin Meely, Michelle Napoli and many others. Each piece reflects the artist’s unique connection to the land and the traditions of the Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo tribes, in the hope of offering a glimpse into the beauty, complexity and resilience of Indigenous cultures that have thrived in this region for centuries.
Curated by Eastern Pomo artist Meyo Marrufo, the “Maakon Yomi” exhibition brings together the work of various artists in order to carry forward the knowledge and traditions passed down by their ancestors. Marrufo’s own digital artwork explores themes of cultural preservation and features traditional basket patterns, ceremonial dances and more, all drawn from her personal connection to California’s own Yurok, Hupa, Maidu and Miwok peoples and their culture.
The exhibition is being hosted in the Bartolini Gallery of the Marin County Civic Center, a building that was actually constructed upon the ancestral lands of the Coast Miwok. More than just an art show, it is also a tribute to the history, resilience and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples local to the North Bay.
By showcasing the work of more contemporary artists, “Maakon Yomi” hopes to offer a powerful reminder of the enduring connection between the land, the art and the Indigenous people who continue to shape and share Marin’s cultural heritage in the modern sphere (while still staying true to traditions of the past).
This educational exhibition is open to the public through the Bartolini Gallery up until Jan. 23 of next year. So, one should not miss out on the opportunity to take in this curated collection of contemporary Indigenous art that honors the rich legacy and ongoing presence of these local Native communities, whose roots run deep in the landscape of the North Bay.
The ‘Maakon Yomi: Our Homelands of the Coast Miwok’ exhibition is open 10am to 4pm Monday through Friday at the Bartolini Gallery, located at 10 Avenue of the Flags in San Rafael. Admission is free, and the gallery is fully accessible. For more details, visit MarinCenter.org.
