July 15, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

SMC to Host Gallery Reception for Native American Artist Matika Wilbur’s Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America

Exhibit runs until May 15, 2023

The Santa Monica College (SMC) Pete and Susan Barrett Art Gallery will host a free gallery reception to celebrate the exhibition of Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America, by photographer, writer, and podcaster Matika Wilbur from the Tulalip and Swinomish Tribes. All are invited to meet the artist at the reception in the gallery on Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The exhibition will be on view through May 15, 2023.

The SMC Pete & Susan Barrett Gallery is located at the SMC Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th Street (at Santa Monica Boulevard), Santa Monica.

Wilbur — Santa Monica College’s artist-in-residence for 2022-2023 — will also deliver a highly informative keynote speech earlier in the day at 3 p.m. in the Student Services Orientation Hall on SMC’s main campus, located at 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. The speech will reflect themes of the exhibition in Barrett Gallery and provide insights into contemporary Native American life through a new model of awareness, with honest photographic representation and direct narratives of America’s First Peoples.

Wilbur’s consciousness-shifting exhibition counteracts the clichéd representation in media of Indigenous peoples with a comprehensive repository of imagery and oral histories accurately portraying the diversity and richness of contemporary Native America. The show is made possible with generous support from Mark and Freya Ivener, as well as from SMC Associated Students; SMC’s Division of Equity, Pathways, and Inclusion; SMC Associates; SMC Art Department, SMC Photography Department, SMC Global Council; SMC Public Policy Institute; and SMC Foundation.

Wilbur founded Project 562 ten years ago as a teacher at the Tribal school in her community. After experiencing the visceral and violent effects that one-dimensional racist Native imagery had on her students, she sold everything in her Seattle apartment and packed her life into her RV, the “Big Girl.” Wilbur then set out to make pictures of folks from more than 562 federally recognized Tribes. Over the last decade, that goal has expanded as she’s trekked across Turtle Island and beyond, documenting and amplifying contemporary Indigeneity. Wilbur has now visited over 750 communities and talked story with countless relatives. 

The Project 562 book will be published in spring 2023 by Ten Speed Press and Penguin Random House. Project 562 is Wilbur’s fourth major creative project elevating Native American identity and culture. Her first project captured portraits of Coast Salish elders for We Are One People (2004, Seattle Art Museum). Her next project, We Emerge, featured Native people in contemporary urban and traditional settings (2008, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture), and was followed by Save the Indian and Kill the Man, which addressed the forced cultural assimilation of Native peoples (2012, Tacoma Art Museum).

Since 2015, Wilbur has delivered more than 300 keynote speeches at institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, Google, the National Education Association, and TED. She is a National Geographic Explorer and recipient of the distinguished Leica Photo Award. She co-hosts the popular Native issues podcast All My Relations, which invites guests to explore the connections between land, creatural relatives, and one another.

In her role as SMC artist-in-residence, Wilbur collaborated with Barrett Gallery Director Emily Silver and SMC students to build her exhibition from the ground up. Students were involved in building walls, printing and framing imagery, conducting deep dive research, and art handling. Together, Wilbur and the students curated images centered around authentic, poignant narratives, and crafted this groundbreaking show.

“Equity, diversity, and inclusion are an intrinsic part of Santa Monica College’s culture, and drives everything we do,” said Barrett Art Gallery director Emily Silver. “Matika Wilbur’s work ties in seamlessly with that focus, and we are beyond thrilled to be showcasing her thought-provoking, urgent work, especially as it will speak powerfully to SMC’s diverse students about the transformative power of art and representation.

”Dispatches from Project 562 can be found @project_562, and on matikawilbur.com,project562.com, and allmyrelationspodcast.com. For more information on the Santa Monica College exhibition and all the upcoming events, contact silver_emily@smc.edu or visit smcbarrettgallery.com (the gallery is also on Instagram as @smcbarrettgallery). Guests should visit smc.edu/coronavirus before heading to the gallery for up-to-date details on vaccine and mask requirements, as the requirements are subject to change.

<>Related Posts

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...

Venice Beach to Host First Medal at 2028 Olympics

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Venice Beach, known for its vibrant boardwalk, will kick off the 844 ticketed events, hosting the triathlon along its coastline...

Santa Monica Man Arrested for Allegedly Exporting Electronics to Iran

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

Ostovari, identified as the CEO of a Tehran-based engineering firm, allegedly orchestrated the scheme since 2018  A 66-year-old Santa Monica...

Federal Judge Sides with Santa Monica, Other Local Governments Against Immigration Raids

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete praised the ruling, saying it reaffirmed the city’s commitment to protecting residents from unjust detention...

Veterans Tech Group to Launch Los Angeles Chapter with Networking Event

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

Founded in San Francisco, VetsInTech operates 20 chapters nationwide and claims more than 60,000 veterans VetsInTech, a national nonprofit that...

Film Review: Jurassic World: Rebirth

July 13, 2025

July 13, 2025

“The story is simplistic and predictive, and that’s all it needs to be, because the age-old battle to survive the...

Santa Monica Assault Suspect Faces Multiple Charges, Authorities Seek Additional Victims

July 13, 2025

July 13, 2025

Marbra allegedly assaulted a 52-year-old woman on the Strand in Santa Monica, facing a felony count of assault with intent...

SM.a.r.t.Column: Does the Rand Corporation have a future in Santa Monica?

July 13, 2025

July 13, 2025

“Although no one said it outright, it is clear to all that RAND is feeling—and will continue to feel—the impact...

County Health Leaders Decry Federal Policy Barring Undocumented from Programs

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

The officials argued the policy jeopardizes care for all residents, noting it could deter people—regardless of status—from seeking treatment  Leaders...

County Supervisors Move to Preserve Measure J Amid Charter Error

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

Measure J mandates that at least 10% of the county’s locally generated, unrestricted funds be allocated to community investments like...

LA Medical Center Seeks Help Identifying Unconscious Patient

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

He has been unconscious since admission, and staff have been unable to determine his identity Los Angeles General Medical Center,...

Mayor Bass Issues Directive to Protect Immigrant Communities

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

The order expands access to city resources for affected families and requests records from ICE, including details on arrests Mayor...

Downtown Santa Monica CEO Andrew Thomas to Step Down

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

Thomas, who rejoined DTSM, Inc. in 2022, oversaw the introduction of a private security program, expanded homeless outreach, and boosted...

Conservancy to Tour Historic Miles Playhouse at State of the City Event

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

Built in 1929, the Miles Playhouse serves as the centerpiece of Lincoln Park The Santa Monica Conservancy will offer 15-minute...

Sen. Ben Allen Highlights Challenges, Economic Gains for LA28 Olympics

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

The remarks came during the first informational hearing of the Senate’s Special Committee on International Sporting Events State Sen. Ben...