Alaskan artist featured at Northern Multicultural Center

Press release

Montana State University-Northern’s Multicultural Center is featuring Lisa Lang as the first artist of the month for the 2016-2017 school year.

Lang resides in Haidaburg, Alaska, — her clan is the Yaghwlaanas, Haida Raven, subclan Two Finned Killer Whale. She studied federal Indian law at the University of New Mexico and is the executive director of the Xaadas Kil Kuyaas Foundation — Precious Haida Words — institution dedicated to promote, preserve and perpetuate the rich cultural legacy of the Alaska Haida dialect.

Lang is showing a 19” x 15” canvas titled “Gifting — Ravens Always Get It Done Right.”

Lang said, “A woman is reflected as an image of what we carry inside of us. This piece was given with intentions of healing, helping, and giving unconditionally. If you see and feel this emotion, then you have those gifts inside you, as well.

“I am Haida, and we are artists,” she added, “It is a part of our culture and identity, and it is our Native way to give, whether it is our food, our artwork, or our love for each other. The majority of my art has been donated to raise funds for my community to assist individuals and families. This piece was created specifically to donate to a family, and I was inspired to paint just for that reason — to give. My work is contemporary Haida art. I will be creating more art work, so I will begin commissioning pieces as in my community we are forming a local non-profit artist coop. I am truly honored to have this piece on exhibition in Montana.”

Haida art is the art of the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America; it is globally recognized for monumental totem poles and fine carved sculptures primarily in wood, but also in metal, slate, and weaving. In many cases elongated shapes are one of the recurring elements. Many of them are inspired by the ocean’s life; killer whales, sea lions, and supernatural creatures are some of the elements.

Northern’s Office of Diversity Awareness and Multicultural Programs invites local and regional artists to exhibit their pieces, preferably those that have some link to multicultural themes.

For more information, contact [email protected] or call 406-265-3589.