New art exhibit at Arlee CDC features Native artists
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News from the Arlee CDC
ARLEE — The Arlee Community Development Corporation recently debuted a new art exhibit featuring works by Native artists Aspen and Cameron Decker, and Jeneese Hilton. Their works explore themes of myth, tradition and culture expressed in a variety of creative media.
Jeneese was raised by her grandparents on the Blackfeet reservation in Montana, and her work draws inspiration from literature, history, myths, and Eastern, Western and Native American philosophy and religion. Much of her work emphasizes these ideas from an eastern perspective, especially Taoism and Tai Chi.
Cameron Decker is Diné, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, and a descendant of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes. He paints with natural pigments that he processes into oil paints, and draws using charcoal he personally prepares. His public artworks across the Flathead Reservation, including recent contributions from a teen art project for the Arlee CDC, underscore his commitment to community engagement through art.
Aspen Decker, an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, has a bachelor’s degree in tribal historic preservation and a master’s in linguistics. She has taught Salish for 10 years, and has also taught youth art classes at the Arlee CDC. Her artwork not only reflects the Sqelixw (Salish) ways of knowing, but also embodies her passion for inspiring young artists through creative expression.
In addition to the featured artists, the gallery also offers prints, cards and small original artworks by a variety of local artists. The gallery is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by appointment by calling 406-370-3358.
The Arlee CDC is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting with programs and projects that are beneficial socially, physically, economically, and culturally to the residents of Arlee and the Jocko Valley. This organization is an equal opportunity provider.
