Reflecting on Tribal Sovereignty

Interconnected, the Student Response Exhibition, is one more example of how exhibitions and programmatic offerings provide a framework for directly bridging an important relationship between the Art Museum, and by extension Miami University, and the Myaamia Center and Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. Shortly after the unveiling event in the auditorium space, museum-goers gathered in the Douglass gallery to learn the results of the viewers choice artists awards sponsored by the Art Museum Members Association. Curator of Exhibitions, Jason E. Shaiman was joined by Ann Taulbee, Art Museum Membership Steering Committee Member and Director of the Department of Art’s Hiestand Galleries, to announce the winners.

Since the opening of the exhibition, visitors have been voting for their favorite works on a kiosk located in the gallery. Votes cast by visitors to the exhibition selected the three winners. Placing 3rd with an award of $100 is Kayla Becker for her work niila myaamia - I am myaamia. Becker, who is a Sophomore, Computer Science major, is one of four Myaamia students at Miami University who submitted work for the SRE. In 2nd place receiving $250 is Olivia De Leon for her work, Where Do I Stand? De Leon is a Junior, Studio Art major with a minor in Museums and Society. Taking the grand prize of $500 and 1st place, is

Cassady Edwards for her work Ol’ Iron Eyes. Edwards is a Senior with a double major in Art Education and Studio Art. Special thanks to the Art Museum’s Membership Committee for providing the cash awards and their continued support of the Student Response Exhibition series, and thanks to all who visited the exhibition and cast their votes. To learn about all of the student artist check out this blog post featuring them and thier work.

What an amazing evening it was at the Art Museum with two special events connected to the Myaamia Center and the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. Collaborations of this nature demonstrate the importance of the Art Museum’s exhibitions and programming in celebrating diversity and artistic expression.

To read the text of the Land Acknowledgment Panel, please visit the About section of our website(MiamiOH.edu/ ArtMuseum/About)