Contemporary Indigenous Arts Festival to
be hosted by the Ulrich Museum in October

Wichita, Kansas – Live performances, artist talks, hands-on workshops, and a film program will join the Myths of the West exhibit as the Ulrich Museum of Art presents the Contemporary Indigenous Arts Festival, Oct. 4-5 at the Museum and other locations at Wichita State University.

College and high school students, as well as the public, are invited to take part as the Ulrich celebrates the works of Indigenous artists in conjunction with Myths of the West: Narrating Stories of the Land and People through Wichita Art Collections, which runs through Dec. 3 in the Polk/Wilson and Amsden Galleries. Admission to all events is free. Funding is available to assist regional high schools with transportation.

The festival kicks off the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 4 with a performance by Frank Waln, a Sicangu Lakota rapper and activist. He has released two solo albums, “Born Ready” and “The Bridge,” and has received three Native American Music Awards. Waln’s tribal name is Oyate Teca Obmani, and in addition to performing solo, he also sings and records with his band, Nake Nula Waun.

On Wednesday, Oct. 5, a variety of programs will be available. Artist-led tours of Myths of the West will take place throughout the day. Workshops on topics including printmaking, songwriting, beading, ceramics and others are planned. Registration is required for hands-on workshops, a list of which will be released on Sept. 21. Live dance and music performances are scheduled, and the Sundance Indigenous Short Film Tour will screen at the CAC Theater at 10 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Myths of the West and associated programs are generously supported by Art Bridges, INTRUST Bank, Emprise Bank, and Fidelity Bank. Additional support provided by Don and Ellie Skokan, Keith and Georgia Stevens, and Jeff and Janice Van Sickle. The Ulrich is grateful for the ongoing support of Salon Circle members who make the Museum’s exhibitions and programs possible through their Salon memberships. We also receive funding for general operational support from the City of Wichita and Wichita State University. WSU College of Fine Arts; WSU School of Art, Design & Creative Industries; and Mid-America All-Indian Museum are partnering with the Ulrich to produce the festival.

About the Ulrich Museum of Art
The Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art is the university art museum of Wichita State University. Open since 1974, it holds a nationally significant collection of approximately 6,700 works of modern and contemporary art that span the 20th and 21st centuries and include the nationally recognized Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection. The Ulrich is a vital community resource that supports intellectual inquiry, teaching, and lifelong learning on the WSU campus and in the community.

For more information about this event,
contact Teri Mott at (316) 978-6462
or email [email protected].