Events

The second of three films in our Indigenous Film Series, "Gather" follows the stories of natives on the frontlines of a growing movement to reconnect with spiritual and cultural identities that were devastated by genocide. "Gather" follows Nephi Craig, a chef from the White Mountain Apache Nation (Arizona), opening an indigenous café as a nutritional recovery clinic; Elsie Dubray, a young scientist from the Cheyenne River Sioux Nation (South Dakota), conducting landmark studies on bison; and the Ancestral Guard, a group of environmental activists from the Yurok Nation (Northern California), trying to save the Klamath river. NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. The National Endowment for the Arts Big Read is designed to broaden our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. Patagonia Public Library is one of 60+ nonprofit organizations to receive a grant to host an NEA Big Read project.

4th generation Patagonians Glen “Gooch” Goodwin and Kayla Lewis-Simpson will present their photography at this art opening highlighting the landscape, wildlife, people, and history of the area. This will be a three-week exhibition held at The Patagonia Museum and will be open for public viewing during museum open hours, Thursday-Saturday, 2-4pm. NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

Join Zarco Guerrero for a series of stories that share the vibrant and tragic history of water and the River People, over a 2,000-year period beginning with the Toltec trade route that brought agriculture and corn to the Southwest. The history of the O’Odham before and after the expansion west is revealed. We learn about the Yaqui Indians who fled persecution and found refuge in Arizona rebuilding the ancient canal system. A descendant of the first Mormon settlers tells his families’ story of finding an oasis in the desert given to them by God and their determination to tame the mighty Salt River. Our story culminates when an endearing elderly woman shares the hope that there still is to protect our water resources and to right the wrongs committed against the land and its River People. As a sculptor, muralist, storyteller and performance artist Zarco has dedicated his career to creating positive social change through the arts. Born in Arizona, he has been instrumental in the development of Latino Arts statewide. His art has been exhibited in Mexico and throughout the United States. He has received international acclaim, and awards, such as a National Endowment for the Arts Japan Fellowship, a Governor’s Arts Award, […]

The second of 3 adult book discussions, Deb Goff will facilitate a discussion of Joy Harjo’s 2012 coming-of-age memoir, “Crazy Brave.” NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

Native American flute player and storyteller, Randy Granger, will present a program of flute music and storytelling. Granger is a native of New Mexico, a professional musician and specializes in Native American tales and creation stories often interweaving flute and drum within the stories. He is an award-winning recording artist, instructor, spiritual teacher, actor who performs and headlines around the country in concerts and at festivals. His music is heard on NPR, Hearts of Space, PBS, Pandora, Spotify, and radio stations around the world. He is of Mayan/Apache ancestry. www.randygranger.net NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

In this Zoom presentation led by Rosemarie Dombrowski, we’ll explore the history of poetic therapy in America in both clinical and communal environments. We’ll also discuss the features that make poetry an ideal (and efficacious) form of augmentative therapy—in other words, how it can help us discover creative ways to explore our vulnerabilities, re-cast our narratives, and encourage hope and healing. Given these properties, we’ll also be addressing how poetry can potentially revolutionize the ways in which we educate future practitioners and, most importantly, the ways in which it can revolutionize patient care. Zoom registration link found here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rTwbYPRoQCeadiQKOFudbg Rosemarie Dombrowski is the inaugural Poet Laureate of Phoenix, AZ and the founding director of Revisionary Arts, a nonprofit that provides therapeutic poetry workshops for vulnerable populations, the medical community, and the community at large. She’s published three collections of poetry including The Book of Emergencies (Five Oaks Press, 2014), a lyrical ethnography of the culture of nonverbal Autism. She’s the recipient of an Arts Hero award, a Great 48 award, a Fellowship from the Academy of American Poets, and others. She serves on the advisory board of the Narrative Medicine program at the University of Arizona Biomedical campus and teaches courses in literature and the […]

This revelatory documentary brings to light the profound and overlooked influence of Indigenous people on popular music in North America. Focusing on music icons like Link Wray, Jimi Hendrix, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Taboo (The Black Eyed Peas), Charley Patton, Mildred Bailey, Jesse Ed Davis, Robbie Robertson, and Randy Castillo, RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World shows how these pioneering Native American musicians helped shape the soundtracks of our lives. All ages welcome. NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.