The Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene has unveiled a compelling new gallery space devoted to Native and Indigenous art, with a standout exhibit by Klamath Modoc artist Ka'ila Farrell-Smith. Open to the public at the Contemporary Indigenous Art Gallery, Farrell-Smith's "G'EELA: Land and Creation" will grace the concourse through December, and an opening reception is slated for March 7 from 5-7 p.m., aligning with the First Friday ArtWalk, according to a statement from the City of Eugene.
Farrell-Smith's exhibition, which features nine artworks spanning from 2011 to 2023, serves as a lens on her profound bond with her ancestral lands near Modoc Point, Oregon, and as a homage to her late father, Alfred Leo Smith. Her multi-layered technique involves paint, local pigments, stenciled imagery and text, culminating in a visual dialogue that marries modern sensibilities with traditional Klamath basket patterns inherited from her forebears.
Works on display vary in their aesthetic exploration, pieces such as "Maq'Laq Sn'Weet's" (Klamath Woman) capture figurative art, while "tGalam" (Towards the West) merges graffiti elements, petroglyphs and textual components. Meanwhile, "Ghosts in the Machine 019," part of a larger series, employs gray scale and Northern Paiute lithium topsoil to spotlight the environmental and cultural ravages of lithium extraction operations.
Recognized as a 2021 Hallie Ford Fellow, and an initial 2019-2020 Fields Artist Fellow with Oregon Humanities, Farrell-Smith boasts an impressive portfolio, having her work featured in esteemed institutions such as the Tacoma Art Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the National Gallery of Art. With a BFA from Pacific Northwest College of Art and an MFA from Portland State University, her artistic journey, and accomplishments evidence a compelling narrative of dedication and recognition in the contemporary art scene.
The opening of the new gallery is part of the City Exhibitions project aiming to promote regional artists and arts organizations through a selection of public exhibition spaces in downtown Eugene. The gallery is poised to serve not only the regional community but also national and international audiences, presenting an ever-changing lineup of contemporary Indigenous artworks. It is a collaborative effort of the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, City of Eugene Cultural Services, and local partners, all invested in innovating the art space and amplifying the voices of underrepresented artists.
