Making History: Celebrating 60 Years of IAIA and 50 Years of MoCNA
IAIAâOne Entity, Two Locations, Making History for 60 Years in the Pasatiempo
Did you see our ad in the Pasatiempo, Friday, November 25? Download and view IAIAâOne Entity, Two Locations, Making History for 60 Years in the Santa Fe New Mexican.Â
The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), the birthplace of contemporary Native American art, has been the educational home for esteemed, innovative artists, writers, filmmakers, performers, and leaders since 1962. At the start of its humble beginnings on the Santa Fe Indian School campus, IAIA began collecting and exhibiting student artworks, a collection that soon became the worldâs premier collection of contemporary Indigenous artâthe IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA).
Today, IAIA continues to grow on its stunning 140-acre campus, offering more and more certificate, undergraduate degree, and graduate degree programs, and MoCNA continues to expand its renowned collection of over 9,000 artworks, curating numerous progressive and innovative exhibitions, both traveling and at MoCNAâs location in downtown Santa Fe. This year, as we remember our rich history and look to our vibrant future, we ask everyone to join us in celebrating IAIAâs sixtieth anniversary and MoCNAâs semicentennial. The celebration of this monumental 60/50 anniversary will encompass the theme Making History and will be a prominent part of all IAIA and MoCNA events in 2022. Additionally, we have designed a commemorative 60/50 Anniversary logo, which will be displayed throughout the year.
Timeline
1962 | IAIA is established by Lloyd Kiva New (Cherokee), Dr. George Boyce, and their associates as a high school dedicated to contemporary Indigenous arts on the campus of the Santa Fe Indian School. |
1972 | The IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts is established. |
1975 | IAIA becomes a two-year college offering degrees in Studio Arts, Creative Writing, and Museum Studies. |
1984 | IAIA is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. |
1986 | IAIA is chartered by the US Congress as the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development, becoming one of only three Congressionally chartered higher education institutions in the U.S. |
1992 | The IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts is relocated to downtown Santa Fe. The museum leads the nation in exhibiting contemporary Indigenous art. |
1994 | IAIA becomes a Land-Grant institution providing agricultural education and technical assistance to New Mexicoâs 22 Indigenous communities and surrounding areas. |
2000 | IAIAâs college campus moves to its permanent home on 140 acres in Rancho Viejo, just south of Santa Fe. Facilities include the Barbara and Robert Ells Science and Technology building, the Allan Houser Haozous Sculpture and Foundry building, and the Lloyd Kiva New Welcome Center. |
2001 | IAIA is approved to offer BFA degrees in Studio Arts, Cinematic Arts and Technology, Museum Studies, Creative Writing, and Indigenous Liberal Studies. Certificates in Business, Museum Studies, and Native American Art History are also offered. |
2013 | IAIAâs first graduate degree, an MFA in Creative Writing, is approved by the Higher Learning Commission. |
2018 | IAIA gains approval for new AFA and BFA degrees in Performing Arts. The Performing Arts and Fitness Center opens. |
2019 | The IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts receives accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, demonstrating its credibility, accountability, and dedication to purpose. |
2021 | IAIAâs MFA in Studio Arts is approved by the Higher Learning Commission. The National Emerging Museum Professionals Network awards IAIA âBest Museum Studies Program,â citing its âoutstanding service to emerging museum professionals.â |
2022 | IAIAâs MFA in Cultural Administration is approved by the Higher Learning Commission. |
Established in 1962 under the leadership of Lloyd Kiva New (Cherokee), Dr. George Boyce, and others, IAIA embodied a bold and innovative approach to arts education that was revolutionary for the time. Now, sixty years later, IAIA continues to fill a vital role as the only fine arts college in the world dedicated to the study of contemporary Native American and Alaska Native arts. Its culturally based curricula, innovative teaching, critical inquiry, and intergenerational learning inspire students and prepare them for success and leadership that reflects Native cultures and values. As a 1994 Land-Grant institution, IAIA provides training and outreach that promotes tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
Over the past six decades, IAIAâs influence on the art world has been monumental. âWith the start of the Institute of American Indian Arts, students were encouraged to experiment,â says IAIA President Dr. Robert Martin (Cherokee Nation). âThe boundaries were limitless. Our students were taught to develop their artistic style without being bound by tradition or history.â According to Dr. Martin, what makes IAIA such a great institution is its student body who enrich the campus community with their diversity, creativity, talents, and passion. âWhat Iâve admired most during my tenure here is observing the evolution of our studentsâ creativity and the ways in which they learn to take risks and manifest other leadership qualities while advancing their artistic expression.â
MoCNA, established in 1972 to showcase Indigenous creativity and to facilitate, advance, and support the study of museum practices, is the countryâs only museum for exhibiting, collecting, and interpreting the most progressive works of contemporary Indigenous artists. MoCNA is dedicated solely to advancing the scholarship, discourse, and interpretation of contemporary Indigenous art for regional, national, and international audiences. It offers a unique perspective of Indigenous cultures and is a catalyst for intercultural dialogue, contributing profoundly to the dissemination and expansion of discourses related to the contemporary visual arts field by cultivating knowledge and appreciation advanced through dynamic exhibitions, publications, and engaging educational programs that reflect the vibrancy of contemporary Native art. While it began as a collection of student work, over the past half century, MoCNA has evolved to represent a wide range of contemporary arts from the best Indigenous artists in the world, explains IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts Director Patsy Phillips (Cherokee Nation). âMany artists, scholars, and administrators both Native and non-Native have contributed to the museumâs success over the past five decades,â Phillips says. âIn my fourteenth year as Director, I am proud of the staffâs continued commitment to elevate contemporary Indigenous art through exhibitions, collections, programs, partnerships, and new research.â
In 2022, when you join IAIA or MoCNA for any public event, be it the IAIA Commencement, IAIA Scholarship Event and Auction, MoCNA Opening Reception for Summer Exhibitions, IAIAâs Annual Open House, or any other exhibition or event, you will also be joining us in celebrating our 60/50 AnniversaryâMaking History.
Making History Happenings
Here are a few of the events that we have planned during our anniversary year.
- January 19, 2â3 pm: Unsettling the Landscape: Panel Discussion Moderated by RCCNA Mellon Scholar Kendra Greendeer (Zoom)
- January 26, 1â2 pm: IAIA A-i-R: Hudson and HopeâVirtual Studio Tour (IAIA Campus, Academic Building)
- March 9, 5 pm: IAIA A-i-R: Feddersen, Benally, and FraguaâWelcome Reception (IAIA Campus, Academic Building)
- March 11, 5â7 pm: John Well-Off-Man: Rhythm and LinesâOpening Reception (Museum Store)
- March 11, 5â7 pm: IAIA 2021â2022 BFA Exhibition: Awakened DreamscapesâOpening Reception (Museum)
- March 23, 12â1 pm: Indigenizing Love: Supporting our LGBTQIA Community (IAIA Campus, Gym)
- March 25: MoCNA Panel Discussion with IAIA Senior Graduating Artists (Museum)
- March 25, 11 amâ4 pm: Community Mural Painting with Solomon Enos (Museum)
- April 15, 6â8 pm: Crossing the RealmâIAIA 2022 Spring Graduating Senior ExhibitionâOpening Reception (IAIA Campus, Balzer Gallery)
- April 15âMay 13: Crossing the RealmâIAIA 2022 Spring Graduating Senior Exhibition (IAIA Campus, Balzer Gallery)
- April 18, 5â6:30 pm: IAIA A-i-R: Adams, Fragua, and RutherfordâDinner and Studio Tour (IAIA Campus, Academic Building)
- April 22â24: Earth Day ScreeningâInhabitants: Indigenous Perspectives on Restoring Our World (Museum)
- April 26, 2â3 pm: Anthology: Burn to Emerge Reading (IAIA Campus, CLE Commons)
- April 27, 12â1 pm: IAIA Alumni Voices Series (Livestream)
- May 6â7, 6â8 pm: Performing Arts Presents Sneaky Play
- May 12, 6:30â8:30 pm: Cinematic Arts & Technology Student Filmmaker Showcase (Jean Cocteau Cinema)
- May 12, 5â7 pm: IAIA and the Jane Goodall Institute Partnership Launch Event (Livestream)
- May 14, 10â12 pm: IAIA Commencement (IAIA Campus, Gym)
- May 14, 12â4 pm: IAIA Graduation Powwow (IAIA Campus, Dance Circle)
- May 18: Museum Day (Museum)
- June 25, 12â4 pm: ArtWalk Santa Fe (Museum)
- July 18, 20, and 22, various times: MFASA Public Talks (Livestream)
- July 22, 5â7 pm: IAIA MFASA Exhibition (IAIA Campus, Balzer Gallery)
- August 15, 6â8 pm: Santa Fe Plaza Concert Seriesâ Indigenous Showcase
- August 17, 5:30â9 pm: IAIA Scholarship Event and Auction (La Fonda on the Plaza)
- August 19, 12â1:30 pm: IAIA Alumni Luncheon (Museum, Art Park)
- August 19, 5â7 pm: MoCNA Summer Exhibitions Art of Indigenous Fashion, Athena LaTocha: Mesabi Redux, and Matrilineal: Legacies of Our MothersâOpening Reception (Museum)
- August 19, 5:30â5:45 pm: Art Performance by Jason Baerg (Museum)
- August 19â21: Pop-Up Shop with Jontay Kahm (Museum Store)
- August 20, 9â10 am: Matrilineal: A Fife Family Discussion (Museum, Art Park)
- August 20, 10â11 am: Gallery Tour with Matrilineal Guest Curator Laura Clark (Museum, North Gallery)
- August 20, 10 amâ1 pm: Childrensâ Craft Event and Book Signing with IAIA Faculty Neecy Twinem (Museum, South Courtyard)
- August 20, 11 amâ12:30 pm: Making History Premiere and Panel Discussion (Museum, Helen Hardin Media Gallery)
- August 20, 1:30â3 pm: Reading and Book Signing with Author and Alum Ramona Emerson for Shutter (Museum Store)
- August 20, 2:30â5 pm: Words of the People and Abalone Mountain Press Present: Yoo’tĂł âBeaded Waterâ Reading (Museum, Art Park)
- August 20â21, 8 amâ5 pm: IAIA Student and Recent Graduate Art Market (Museum, Portale)
- August 21, 10 amâ5 pm: CloudFace Live Painting, All Chola Pop-Up Shop, and Wiyaka Pop-Up Shop (Museum Store)
- August 21, 10:30 amâ12 pm: Reading and Book Signing with Author and Alum Tâcha-Miâiko Cosgrove (Museum Store)
- August 21, 1â2:30 pm: Reading and Book Signing with Author Brian Lush (Museum Store)
- August 31, 6:30â8 pm: Talk with Author Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer (IAIA Campus, Gym)
- September 6, 5â7 pm: IAIA A-i-R Welcome DinnerâJacobs, Shackleford, Tafoya, and Wilson (IAIA Campus, Academic Building)
- September 7, 5â6:30 pm: Art Rush Opening Reception (IAIA Campus, Balzer Gallery)
- September 13, 3â5 pm: IAIA A-i-R Open StudioâJacobs, Shackleford, Tafoya, and Wilson (IAIA Campus, Academic Building)
- September 21, 5â6:30 pm: Fall 2022 Museum Studies ExhibitionâOpening Reception (IAIA Campus, Balzer Gallery)
- September 21, 1â5 pm: IAIA Open House (IAIA Campus)
- October 1, 11 amâ5 pm: IAIA Powwow (IAIA Campus, Dance Circle)
- October 10: IAIA and MoCNA Indigenous Peoplesâ Day Celebration (IAIA Campus and Museum)
- October 11, 5â7 pm: IAIA A-i-R Welcome DinnerâFeddersen, Logan, and Shaginoff (IAIA Campus, Academic Building)
- October 16, 3â5 pm: The Stories We CarryâOpening Reception (Museum, Art Park)
- October 17, 8:30â5 pm: IAIA Making History Symposium (IAIA Campus)
- October 20â23: IAIA Sponsors SFiFFâs Indigenous Film Program (Various Locations)
- October 24, 3â5 pm: IAIA A-i-R: Feddersen, Logan, and ShaginoffâOpen Studio (IAIA Campus, Academic Building)
- November 4, 6â8 pm: IAIA Fall â22 Graduating Senior Exhibition: Same World, Different VoicesâOpening Reception (IAIA Campus, Balzer Gallery)
- November 12, 3â5 pm: The OGs of Indigenous Fashion Panel Conversation (SITE Santa Fe)
- November 21, 5â7 pm: IAIA A-i-R: Beams, Patton, Pruitt, and RileyâWelcome Dinner (IAIA Campus, Academic Building)
- November 29, 3â5 pm: IAIA A-i-R: Beams, Patton, Pruitt, and RileyâOpen Studio (IAIA Campus, Academic Building)
- December 10, 9 amâ4 pm: IAIAâs Holiday Art Market and SFCCâs Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair (IAIA Campus, PAFC Gym)
![iaia_making_history_logo_v4_sm](https://iaia.edu/wp-content/uploads/iaia_making_history_logo_v4_sm.png)
Institute of American Indian Arts
The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) is the only college in the world dedicated to the study of contemporary Native American and Alaska Native arts. IAIA offers undergraduate degrees in Cinematic Arts and Technology, Creative Writing, Indigenous Liberal Studies, Museum Studies, Performing Arts, and Studio Arts; graduate degrees in Creative Writing and Studio Arts; and certificates in Broadcast Journalism, Business and Entrepreneurship, Museum Studies, and Native American Art History. The college serves approximately 500 full-time equivalent (FTE) Native and non-Native American students from around the globe, representing nearly a hundred federally recognized tribes. Named one of the top art institutions by UNESCO and the International Association of Art, IAIA is among the leading art institutes in our nation and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts
The IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) is the countryâs only museum for exhibiting, collecting, and interpreting the most progressive work of contemporary Native artists. MoCNA is dedicated solely to advancing the scholarship, discourse, and interpretation of contemporary Native art for regional, national, and international audiencesâas such, it stewards over 10,000 Contemporary Indigenous artworks (created 1962 to present). MoCNA is at the forefront of contemporary Native art presentation and strives to be flexible, foresighted, and risk-taking in its exhibitions and programs. MoCNA is located in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Institute of American Indian Arts
IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts
Current and Upcoming MoCNA Exhibitions
A listing of current and upcoming exhibitions at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA).
List of Events
The Stories We Carry
The Stories We Carry features contemporary jewelry created by more than 100 Indigenous artists across decades stewarded by the MoCNA permanent collection.
Our Stories
Our Stories is a companion to The Stories We Carry exhibition, located adjacent to the Kieve Family Gallery.
Arctic Highways: Unbounded Indigenous People
The traveling exhibition Arctic Highways features 12 Indigenous artists from Såpmi (cultural region traditionally inhabited by the Såmi people) and North America, sharing stories of Indigenous people who live on different continents yet regard themselves as kindred spirits.
Common Thread: Indigenous Perspectives from the Arctic
For millennia Indigenous peoples of the North have lived in harmony with the land and sea. The twelve artists and activists in the exhibition Common Thread: Indigenous Perspectives from the Arctic continue this relationship.