A Rochester-native brought up within Haudenosaunee culture, Smoke Santiago’s work explores her native culture, contemporary life, the miracle of pregnancy, and the beauty of the natural world through mainly ceramic forms. Selected from an initial pool of over 2,700 applicants, Smoke Santiago is one of very few artists practicing today whose work attempts to resurrect and elevate the Iroquoian style of pottery. In addition to the funding to cover Smoke Santiago’s salary and benefits, the Everson also received $60,000 in unrestricted funds to assist with staff oversight, supplies, materials, travel, marketing, and fundraising. “If we are to truly rebuild our amazing state, we must celebrate artists’ contributions not only to the economy but to what makes us human,” says Creatives Rebuild New York’s Executive Director Sarah Calderon. “The incredible work being funded through CRNY’s Artist Employment Program underscores the importance of direct support for both individual artists and the organizations that hold their employment.” To learn more about Smoke Santiago’s collaboration with the Everson, visit everson.org/news and see updates on her residency by following the Everson Museum of Art on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. |