In Residence: Tuesday, July 5, 2022 – Sunday, September 4, 2022

Toyuskanash, the Algonquian word for bridges, was a dynamic exhibition and creative making space that brought LICM visitors together with four artists from the Shinnecock Nation:

  • Painter and tradition bearer Denise Silva-Dennis
  • Bead, applique and ribbon artist Tohanash Tarrant
  • Painter David Bunn Martine
  • Fine art photographer Jeremy Dennis

Through displays within the Kaleidozone and Comings & Goings galleries as well as daily workshops, this National Endowment for the Arts grant-funded project utilized storytelling to bridge these artists’ work with one another, bridge traditions of the past with the present, and bridge the Shinnecock community with our LICM visitors.

Artist Residencies

Each artist presented eight 60-minute workshops for the public, sharing an activity that highlighted their artistic methods and cultural traditions. Under the guidance of the artists-in-residence, visitors created their own art to take home.

Discover More

Daily walk-up activities with LICM educators continued the opportunities to engage with the exhibit’s materials and artists’ messages.

  • Toyuskanash: Jewelry Bridges: Created scallop necklaces out of traditional materials, inspired by Denise Silva-Dennis. (July 5-17)
  • Toyuskanash: Applique Traditions: Designed applique medallion on vibrant, colorful paper to represent the family cultures of visitors, inspired by Tohanash Tarrant. (July 18-31) 
  • Toyuskanash: Learning About Wigwams: Made models of the original structures used by the Shinnecock Nation from a variety of materials and explored the natural settings where wigwams have been built, inspired by David Bunn Martine. (August 1-14)
  • Toyuskanash: If I Could Fly: Listened to a traditional story called “Glooscap,” a story about the connection between humans and animals, then created a collaged bird, inspired by Jeremy Dennis. (August 15-28)
Photograph collage of four crafts for the Toyuskanash exhibit. A shell necklace, a paper flower, a diorama, and a paper bird.

What We Saw

Images of each artist and highlighted pieces of their work greeted our visitors. Jeremy Dennis’ interactive map, showcasing culturally significant Native American sites on Long Island, enabled visitors to gain an understanding of “place” as they found their own hometowns. 

Photograph of the Kaleidozone during the Toyuskanash exhibit.

LICM’s KaleidoZone gallery displayed art of all four artists, highlighting their artistic approaches. Work by Denise Silva-Dennis.

Photograph of a wall containing three printed photos of indigenous people.

LICM’s KaleidoZone gallery displayed art of all four artists, highlighting their artistic approaches. Photography by Jeremy Dennis.

Photograph of a wall containing paintings within the Toyuskanash exhibit.

LICM’s KaleidoZone gallery displayed art of all four artists, highlighting their artistic approaches. Painting by David Bunn Martine.

Photograph of three indigenous art pieces displayed on an orange wall.

LICM’s KaleidoZone gallery displayed art of all four artists, highlighting their artistic approaches. Fancy Yoke and Leggings Set by Tohanash Tarrant.

A photograph of an adult talking to two children while they sit at a table doing arts and crafts.

The traveling exhibit gallery was the setting for the artist-led workshops and an open area for art making throughout the summer.

A collage of photographs featuring visitors enjoying the Toyuskanash exhibit.

The four artists-in-residence worked together to create a Medicine Wheel based on the four colors black, red, white and yellow, to represent a number of values among Native people.

“The concept of ‘Bridges’ represented in the title is a metaphor for bringing people together over difficult or impossible terrain. In the case of Indigenous people and artists, we often have to bridge gaps in empathy, understanding, and knowledge.” -Jeremy Dennis

Special Event: Toyuskanash: Celebrating Indigenous Cultures and Traditions

All four Toyushkanash artists came together on July 23 for a celebration of the culture and traditions of the Shinnecock Nation, free to our visitors. Throughout the event visitors met the artists, viewed the exhibit, created an extension of the Medicine Wheel, and enjoyed a performance plus Q&A at the LICM Theater.

Photo of indigenous performers on stage in traditional clothing.

In the LICM Theater, we learned the meaning behind the dance of the intertribal Indigenous Dance Group, and how Indigenous Peoples of this area continue to hold on to their traditions.

Making of the Medicine Wheel

 

Bridging Regions

The project also bridges geographic regions, as LICM partners with Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio Inc on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation in Southampton, NY. The partnership introduces the work of BIPOC artists, and encourage visitation between the two sites covering both Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Keep Learning

Explore the Shinnecock Nation Cultural Center and Museum.

Does your family have any traditions that you learn from one another?

Artists' Websites

Thank You

This exhibit was generously sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts.

The "Indigenous People's Dance" was paid in part by the New York State Council on the Arts. The forthcoming Land Acknowledgement was sponsored by Humanities New York.