The sound of drum beats will fill the room as the Delaware Art Museum prepares to host its second annual Indigenous/Native Fashion Art Show.
“Living in the Present” will bring together traditions, contemporary fashion and artistic expression for an evening celebrating Indigenous peoples across the Americas.
The Nov. 6 event will begin with a drumming ceremony led by the Red Blanket Singers and hosted by Chief Urie of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape tribe. Attendees can also explore Indigenous fashion and artwork, enjoy food from local vendors and experience an evening centered on the visibility and celebration of Indigenous cultures.
“This is going to tell a beautiful story of a vibrant tapestry of Indigenous nations across the Americas. At the same time, you know, showcasing designs, exhibitions, that honors the past while living in the present,” said Iz Balleto, cultural programs manager at the Delaware Art Museum.
For Balleto, the show is also an opportunity to highlight the connections Indigenous communities share — connections that can be overlooked when their histories are told separately.
“As Indigenous folks, a lot of people don’t realize that we’re relatives,” Balleto said. “Those in South and Central and North America, we’re all family. And sometimes the history gets divided by who’s telling the story, but our ancestral roots [are] the story. Our roots [are] the foundation to the lineage.”
The runway will feature artistic expressions of Indigenous heritage, including the Matlatzinca and Mexican-Nahuatl roots of multidisciplinary artist Adaysela Reyes, who works under the artistic name Dayesla Ixtli. In addition, fashion designer Kehala Smith, a member of the Turtle Clan, will feature her Tuscarora heritage in her work.
