Birds and Feathers: Their Beauty Within Our Traditions

Showing in the South Gallery from April 2023 through July 28, 2024

This exhibition is co-curated by David Naranjo (Santa Clara/Ohkay Owingeh/Cochiti Pueblos) and Paula Mirabal (Taos Pueblo). Through painting Pueblo pottery designs as wall-sized murals, Naranjo reflected on his intention for the gallery as “feeling like you are inside a pottery vessel.” For Pueblo peoples, birds and feathers are an extremely important form of expressing thanks and respect while at once honoring Mother Earth. Bird and feather designs are seen on our pottery, in our traditional dance clothing, and in our homes, and they represent strength and guidance. This site-specific exhibition combines digital landscape imagery, Pueblo pottery vessels, and muraled Pueblo pottery motifs to convey the beauty and significance of birds and feathers within the Pueblo communities of New Mexico and West Texas.