Grand Opening
‘Uba Seo
Nisenan Arts and Culture
2021 Visibility Through Art Exhibition
California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project is excited to present the 5th annual Visibility Through Art Exhibition in its new arts and culture space, the ‘UBA SEO Gallery.
‘Visibility Through Art’ is a community art initiative produced annually as part of CHIRP's Arts and Culture Program. Visibility Through Art is an intentional and informed collaboration between local artists and members of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe. Each project year explores a theme or subject of importance to the Tribe, culminating in an annual exhibit. This year, artists were asked to center around Destruction of the Land | Destruction of the People. We are invited to consider: the impact humans have on the environment and the long-lasting impacts of the gold rush on the Nisenan people. Art opens the way for meaningful conversations around topics that are not always easy to have and sometimes can reveal solutions that may otherwise remain unseen.
‘UBA SEO: Nisenan Arts and Culture is CHIRP's new gallery venue located at 225 Broad Street Nevada City. 'UBA SEO is a new conduit for bringing visibility to the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe while fulfilling CHIRP’s non-profit mission: to preserve, protect, and perpetuate Nisenan Culture. ‘UBA SEO's identity is malleable, reshaping as needed to meet CHIRP's mission best and raise visibility for the Nisenan, including themed community art collaborations, educational and Tribal workshops, art exhibitions, and more.
Opening Night Talks
Thank you to Kit Kohler at Riparian Studios for the videography and event photography.
2021 Visibility Through Art Exhibit
Destruction of Land | Destruction of People
In 2021 artists were asked to work within a theme that explored the relationship Indigenous peoples and Settlers have to the land. We are invited to consider: the impact humans have on the environment and the long-lasting devastation of the gold rush on the Nisenan people. This exhibition is an intentional and informed collaboration between local artists and members of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe.
Click an image to enlarge and view descriptions.
Akim Aginsky Art Photography.
The Nisenan say that mai were once so plentiful you could cross the river by walking on their backs.
Salmon were one of many local species devastated by miners and settlers during the gold rush. Deforestation, overhunting, misuse of water, and the outlawing of fire on the land led to the destruction of this landscape. Entire mountains were blasted away creating acres of debris suffocating habitats and floodplains downstream. After hydraulic mining was banned, more than 10,000 acres covered in this debris and sediment were reworked, amplifying the previous destruction. This place, called "The Goldfields" can be seen from space as a huge scar on the skin of the earth.
This piece of industrial styrofoam was pulled out of 'uba seo and carved by Visibility Through Art artists for this year's exhibit. The Trash art piece is meant to reflect on our impact on the natural environment, and the loss of wildlife due to pollution, human extraction, and waste.
Nisenan words: ‘Uba Seo - Yuba River and mai - salmon
Thank you to VTA Artists Andy Cerrona and Mira Clark for carving and installing this sculpture piece.