Melissa Shaginoff Artist Residency (2022)

In 2022, The Nave welcomed Melissa Shaginoff as our official Artist in Residence.

Melissa Shaginoff is part of the Udzisyu (caribou) and Cui Ui Ticutta (fish-eater) clans from Nay'dini'aa Na Kayax (Chickaloon Village, Alaska). She is an Ahtna and Paiute person, an artist, a curator, and an Auntie.

During her residency, Melissa focused on topics of reparations, Indigenous language reclamation, cross-cultural understanding and competency, communal creation, and hide tanning. She was/is based out of her artist studio at The Nave and hosted events on-site.

Through small creative gatherings and workshops, Melissa explored topics with diverse audiences and stakeholders. She wove a network of community members around engagement topics to help foster Indigenous programming and themes at The Nave.

“Throughout my residency, I will investigate creative place-making processes. With frameworks of Indigenous stewardship and protocol, I will visit with my community discussing what cements, challenges, and changes our perceptions of place.”

The 2022 Artist in Residence at The Nave was supported in part by, Western States Arts Federation, and National Endowment for the Arts, and by The Kresge Foundation. We are grateful for the financial support of these organizations.