Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
The Heard Museum has opening its newest exhibition: Wisdom from the Future.
The exhibition pairs artwork by artists 55 and older with personal letters they wrote to their younger selves, offering reflections on creativity, identity and lived experience, according to a press release.
“These letters allow audiences to see the artists as whole people,” said Olivia Barney, co-curator of the exhibition. “Their artwork has always communicated meaning, but their words add another layer. One that captures how they want to be remembered, in their own voices.”
The exhibition centers on written letters from 28 artists, each offering guidance, reflection or perspective drawn from personal experience. Artists were invited to respond with minimal constraints, resulting in entries that range from brief reflections to extended narratives.
Featured artists include Kay WalkingStick (Cherokee), Norbert Peshlakai (Diné), Preston Singletary (Tlingit), Tony Abeyta (Diné), Verma Nequatewa (Hopi), Nora Naranjo Morse (Kha’P’o Ówîngeh, Santa Clara Pueblo), Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty (Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux), Barbara Teller Ornelas (Diné), and Sǫhahiyǫh Richard Zane Smith (Wyandot), among others.
While some letters focus on artistic technique and creative practice, many address broader themes such as perseverance, relationships, cultural identity and navigating a life in the arts. The range of tones — from reflective to humorous — underscores the diversity of perspectives represented in the exhibition.Wisdom from the Future was developed in connection with the museum’s Creative Aging program, which supports participants 55 and older in developing artistic skills through structured, hands-on instruction across multiple disciplines.
