Artist Jessica Mehta will discuss her career, perspective and work with antipodes. In this generative workshop, participants play with creating their own antipode (a form of poetry that can be read both forward and backward) while also having the opportunity to embody the antipodes of indigenous women to enhance understanding, compassion, and empathy. Jessica Mehta is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and an author to over a dozen books. She is currently a fellow at Halcyon Art Labs in Washington DC where she is curating an anthology of poetry written by incarcerated and previously incarcerated indigenous women, which is being showcased in a poetry-virtual reality experience, "Red/Act." The Smithsonian’s Arts + Industries Building is a main hub for By The People, a free international arts and dialogue festival celebrating life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness created by Halcyon. You’ll find stunning large-scale art installations, bites by DC’s cuisine incubator Foodhini, and pop-up showcases featuring some of the city’s most interesting multi-platform performers who blend sound, dance, and visual inspiration. AIB opened in 1881 as America’s first National Museum, and was our original home for ideas about to change the world. Closed to the public for nearly two decades, AIB is now being reenergized a laboratory for imagining the future through exciting events, exhibitions, and collaborations. This program is proudly ASL interpreted, thanks to the Smithsonian’s Office of Accessibility. |