Lighted Earth exhibition logo

In honor of National Native American History Month (NNAHM) this November, the Fashion Institute of Technology’s (FIT) Art and Design Gallery–the school’s free contemporary art space in Chelsea–presents the exhibition Lighted Earth, on view to the public from November 7 to December 1. A collaboration between FIT and the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the exhibition features work by students from both institutions.

Lighted Earth showcases student projects from IAIA’s jewelry class shown alongside a documentary film, Lighted Earth: Interviews with IAIA Jewelry and Design Students, filmed and edited by Frosley Fowler (Diné) ’16, which features interviews with students and faculty offering insights into the collections. FIT’s graphic design students developed the visual identity and all supporting graphics for the exhibition.

IAIA students, whose jewelry designs will be exhibited include Noelle Branstetter (Mescalero Apache), Jeremy Red Eagle (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate and Assiniboine), Preston Johnson (Diné), Sabrina Miller, Lisa Patencio (Native Village of Ruby), Jennie Peters, Tawny Townsend (Diné), and Took Walker (Tlingit). There will also be a display of works by resident IAIA designer Patricia Michaels (Taos Pueblo) ’89.

FIT Graphic Design students from the BFA program of Professor Joshua Whitehead include Sonya Bakst ’25, Jessica Ehrenfeld ’25, Veronica Ho-Lee ’25, Lasha Kituashvili ’24, Liam McKinley ’24, Megan O’Haire ’24, Jennifer Oguagha ’24, Stephanie Phillips ’24, and Jiaying Zhen ’25.

Lighted Earth is being presented during National Native American Heritage Month, which is celebrated each November in recognition of the history, culture and contributions of Indigenous people in the United States. By partnering with FIT, and presenting the exhibition during this important month, FIT is helping to raise awareness of Indigenous arts and cultures by providing opportunities for lifelong learning and community engagement through higher education.

Located on the northwest corner of Seventh Avenue and West 27th Street, 227 West 27th Street, New York, NY 10001, the Art and Design Gallery is free and open to the public seven days a week and provides an innovative and experimental platform for FIT and invited guest artists to present and engage with the greater creative community.