Opening Festival Schedule
10 AM
Museum + Native Vendor Fair Open
Vendor Fair and exhibition galleries are free and open to the public. The vendor fair features pieces by makers working in a variety of media: Raquel Banaszak, Gordon Coons, Jaida Grey Eagle, Linnea Kingbird-Martini, Kassie Kodet, Cyndi Milda and Bazille Owen-Reese.
10 AM–5 PM (running continuously)
Missy Whiteman VR Experience | Open Studio
The Coyote Way is based on Missy Whiteman’s short sci-fi, docu-narrative film The Coyote Way: Going Back Home‘s character Charlie. This experimental three-dimensional representation explores the themes of Charlie’s relationship to his community and the universe.
10:30 AM–12 PM
Participatory Demonstration | Melanie Tallmadge Sainz | Open Studio
Visitors are invited to participate in a collaborative, drop-in beading experience led by Melanie Tallmadge Sainz. Participants may observe techniques, engage in conversation, and contribute to a shared beading activity.
11 AM
Trickster Tacos
Food service begins on WAM plaza
11:30 AM
Artist-Led Exhibition Tour | Meet in Carlson Gallery
With Marlena Myles, Missy Whiteman, Natchez Beaulieu + Kendra Greendeer (45–60 minutes)
12:30–2 PM
Participatory Demonstration | LaVerne Whitebear | Open Studio
Visitors are invited to engage with a live participatory demonstration of traditional Dakota quillwork practices, learning about the materials, techniques, and cultural significance of this art form through conversation and observation.
2:15 PM
Curator-Led Exhibition Tour | Meet in Carlson Gallery
With Kendra Greendeer, PhD, WAM Ihlenfeld Curator for Community and Collaborative Exhibitions (45–60 minutes)
3 PM
Keith Secola+ Friends | Live performance | Shepherd Room
Native folk & blues rocker Keith Secola is an accomplished artist: award-winning musician, guitarist and native flute player; singer, songwriter, and producer. His music is familiar to thousands of fans across North America and Europe. Keith’s famous song,”NDN KARS” is considered the contemporary Native American anthem and is the most requested song on Native radio in the US and Canada. Keith Secola is Anishinabe (Ojibwa) originally from the Mesabi Iron Range country of northern Minnesota, now residing in Arizona. He is a member of the Anishinabe Nation of northern Minnesota and southern Ontario,Canada.
5 PM – Museum and Opening Festival Close
The museum and Opening Festival activities, including the vendor fair, close.
**Show yourWAM member cardat the welcome desk for a free coffee or NA beverage!**
Special thanks to the KHR McNeely Family Foundation, Kevin, Rosemary, and Hannah Rose McNeely, for their support of ‘Merciless’: Indigenous Lands Since 1776. This project is also supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and The University of Minnesota Imagine Fund. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through an Art Experiences grant and an Operating Support grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Additional general operating support is generously provided by Ameriprise Financial.
Listing from events.tc.umn.edu. Details can change — check the original listing.