Photographer Matika Wilbur’s New Exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum
Photographer Matika Wilbur shows us what real Indians look like
By Seattle Mag May 5, 2014
This article originally appeared in the May 2014 issue of Seattle magazine.
!–paging_filter–p“What does it mean to be an indian? What is Indian enough?” These are questions artist Matika Wilbur asks her subjects as she travels across the country interviewing and photographing members of more than 560 federally recognized Native American tribes. You can hear the diverse answers via audio clips—and see the similarly varied portraits—in the new exhibit emPhotographic Proof of Contemporary Indians: a href=”http://\/\/seattlemag.com.239elwb01.blackmesh.com/gallery/photographic-memories“Matika Wilbur’s Project 562/a/em. A member of the Swinomish and Tulalip tribes, Wilbur began her journey in late 2012, motivated by the desire to refute stereotypes about Native Americans and reveal the vibrant individuality present in these indigenous communities. On her travel blog (a href=”http://www.matikawilbur.com/blog” target=”_blank”matikawilbur.com/blog/a), Wilbur says, “We survived genocide. We survived relocation. We refuse termination. And we are doing our best to move beyond assimilation and the pressures of extinction.” By collecting rich histories and contemporary stories—and creating genuine portraits—Wilbur is helping to ensure the Native population is not just a thing of the past. 5/17–10/5 (artist lecture: 5/17, 4 p.m.). Times and prices vary.em Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave.; 253.272.4258;a href=”http://www.tacomaartmuseum.org” target=”_blank” tacomaartmuseum.org/a /em/p
Follow Us
Holiday Hunt in Pioneer Square
A daily ornament drop turns December into a neighborhood-wide scavenger hunt.
The holidays tend to bring out the kid in all of us. And if opening presents and eating too many treats weren’t enough, there’s also a scavenger hunt in Seattle’s oldest neighborhood. Pioneer Square’s Holiday Ornament Scavenger Hunt has returned for its third year. Twenty-five handblown glass ornaments—all made at Glasshouse Studio—are hidden across 25…
Chit-Chat Kids
Phone a friend.
Twenty years ago, before everyone walked around with a device in their pocket, kids used to call each other on a landline—often tethered to the kitchen in their home. It was a simpler time, when parents didn’t have to worry (nearly as much) about a potential predator contacting their child. Nowadays, things are different, which…
A Plate for Pickleball
The design celebrates the state’s official sport. Additional plates are on the way.
Washington served up a new license plate last week, honoring the state sport of pickleball. In the works for three years, it’s the second of seven specialty plates to hit the market since getting approved by lawmakers earlier this year. “We’re thrilled to see our efforts become reality,” says Kate Van Gent, vice president of…
Seattle-Based Agency Brings Real Voices to NBC’s New Campaign
DNA&STONE built the project around candid conversations to understand what audiences want from reporting.
“I turned off news altogether. I want to be able to form my own opinions. Just tell the truth.” These lines open NBC News’ new national campaign, a 60-second ad that drifts over forests, farms, neighborhoods, and cityscapes while Americans talk about how worn out they feel by the news. The landscape carries the conversation…