Topaz Jones (Shoshone) ‘11 works on the IAIA Resilience Mural

On Wednesday, May 4, the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) held an opening reception for the IAIA Resilience Project. Made possible through The Good Life Project with support from the Henry Luce Foundation and the Center for the Study of Religion and the City at Morgan State University, the IAIA Resilience Project was conceived through community input exploring the pandemic and its effects on the IAIA Community.

The project consisted of three components:

• IAIA Resilience: A collaborative mural in the Library and Technology Center (LTC) conceptualized by IAIA alum Topaz Jones (Shoshone) ’11 and painted by the IAIA Community
• Resilience: A public art exhibition about resilience located in the Performing Arts and Fitness Center (PAFC), featuring work by Heidi K. Brandow (Diné and Kānaka Maoli) ‘13, April Holder (Sac and Fox) ’08, Topaz Jones (Shoshone) ‘11, Linda Lomahaftewa (Hopi and Choctaw) ’65, and Cara Romero (Chemehuevi) ’05
• Pandemic Renga: A collaborative poem dispersed along the Juniper Ridge walking trail on the IAIA Campus that is written by James Thomas Stevens (Akwesasne Mohawk), Deborah Taffa (Quechan Nation, Laguna Pueblo, and Chicana), Brianna G. Reed (Diné), Kamella Bird Romero (Ohkay Owingeh) ’22, Boderra Joe (Diné) ’18, and Ibe Liebenberg (Chickasaw)

The IAIA Resilience Project is available to view on the IAIA Campus.