Contemporary Native American Art & Journey to America: March 2 - April 6, 2018

©Jamie L. Luoto, "Sami Reindeer,' gouache on watercolor paper, 14x11 inches, 2012

©Jamie L. Luoto, "Sami America,' oil and metal leaf on canvas, 18x14 inches, 2012

Two of my paintings, "Sami American" and "Sami Reindeer," will be shown in Highland Park, Illinois at The Art Center, as part of what the organizers describe as "two extraordinary exhibits juxtaposing Contemporary Native American Art and Journey to America. The exhibit will voice two individual stories side by side, to create a dialogue in the context of the native population, each personal history and heritage affecting the true American Story. We hope to shed light on the America where diversity, with the differences of each journey at the core, shape our view and vision of how we look at immigration in America." 
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My work explores the complexities of ancestral identity and how it threads together the past, present and future. How can I relate to something that was never mine because it was never passed down in the way of traditions? My portraits contemplate the loss of Sami culture through oppression and my family’s emigration from Finland, as well as, the significance in reconnecting to the land and customs of my ancestors. My pieces are endeavors in understanding what it means to be Sami American.

Opening Reception: March 9 6-8, 2018 The Art Center 1957 Sheridan Road Highland Park, IL 60035