Idyllwild Arts Land Acknowledgement
Idyllwild Arts respectfully acknowledges the Qawishpa Cahuillangnah (also known as Cahuilla Band of Indians) and all nine sovereign Bands of Cahuilla people who have stewarded this land throughout the generations and continue to steward this land for all future generations.
Native American Arts at Idyllwild Arts
Summer | Academy | Public Programs | Webinar Series | Masterclasses | Scholarships | Community Outreach
Native American Arts Program at Idyllwild Arts aspires to be a leader in advancing, teaching and promoting Indigenous Arts at Idyllwild Arts Academy and Summer Program. Building on our historic engagement with Native American artists and scholars, we are excited by the new opportunity to grow and expand year-round opportunities in learning for all. Indigenous teaching artists, traditional knowledge bearers, and scholars have the opportunity to cross-pollinate their creative talents and develop their craft, thus identifying new ways to contribute to a global art community through education. The spirit of this work now lives year-round and is at the heart of the truly unique experience of shaping global citizen artists at Idyllwild Arts.
The Native American Arts Program serves the Summer Program through organizing Native American Arts Summer Workshops and curating, each year, a week of Native American Arts Programs (Festival Week) that bring together distinguished artists, scholars, and cultural specialists who present performances, demonstrations, films, and the Michael Kabotie Lecture Series. The spirit of the yearly festival remains, in bringing together the scientific, intuitive, and trickster voices for a balanced and provocative learning experience. It is designed to enhance and add depth to the workshop experience.
Summer Workshops 2023
June 12 – June 30, 2023
Native American Arts Festival Week 2023
June 18 – June 23, 2023
Exploring Comedy and Humor in Indigenous Expression
All events are free and open to the public.
We are excited to welcome you to join us this summer for a week full of programming to complement our summer Native American Arts workshops. All events are free and open to the public. This year, we will creatively explore the special role that humor and comedy play in Indigenous communities across Indian Country.
Festival Week Lineup
“Welcoming Home the Birds” Kick-Off Event
“Welcoming Home the Birds” Kick-Off event. This event is a day-long presentation and sharing of Cahuilla and Serrano Bird Singing. Local Bird Singing groups throughout Southern California are welcome to come and sing and dance Bird. Attendees are invited to taste test California Native Foods presented by Willie Pink (Luiseño). Hands-on activities will be provided by Tony Soares, Lily Clarke (Cahuilla) and Mother Earth Clan. Buy directly from local Native American artists selling arts and crafts. Visit our non-profit booths and learn more about community and organizational partners. A few partners include: News from Native California, Native American Land Conservancy, Mother Earth Clan, Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, California Indian Nations College, Cahuilla Consortium and others!
LOCATION: Studio D, Idyllwild Arts Campus (11 am – 5 pm)
Native American Arts Festival Week Invitational Exhibition, “Still We Smile: Humor as Correction and Joy” curated by Meranda Roberts (Numu/Xicana)
The artist/curator led panel discussion takes place at 7 pm in the gallery. A reception with Native Foods Taste Testing to follow at 8pm.
This year’s invitational exhibition is curated by Meranda Roberts (Numu/Xicana) . The exhibition explores the concept of humor, and joy and its role within Indigenous communities to express love, share good humor, cope and correct behaviors. Artists include: Rachel Martin (Tlingit), Jeremy Dennis (Shinnecock Indian Nation), River Garza (Tongva), Chelazon Leroux (Buffalo River Dene Nation), Zig Jackson (Mandan/Hidatsa/Akirara), and the late great, James Luna (Luiseño).
Michael Kabotie Lecture Series – “An All Around Comedy and Cat Guy, A Conversation with Joey Clift”
Joey Clift is a comedian, TV writer, and enrolled Cowlitz Indian Tribal Member. Writing credits include Spirit Rangers on Netflix, New Looney Tunes on Cartoon Network and Molly of Denali on PBS. He created, wrote and directed the Comedy Central digital series “Gone Native,” his award winning short films have screened everywhere from Just For Laughs to The Smithsonian Museum and his November 2019 appearance on the Earwolf podcast “How Did This Get Played” was called a “watershed moment” in podcasting by Indiewire, Vulture and Uproxx among other outlets. Most importantly, he started the LA Underground Cat Network, which is a 16,000-member strong Facebook group for Los Angeles comedians to share pictures of their cats. He’s kind of a cat guy.
This is a lunchtime lecture, attendees are invited to grab lunch, sit down and enjoy the show!
Michael Kabotie Lecture Series – Steven Paul Judd
This is a lunchtime lecture, attendees are invited to grab lunch, sit down and enjoy the show!
LOCATION: Krone Library, Idyllwild Arts Campus, 12-1pm
Judd’s art incorporates familiar pop culture images and icons into his paintings, prints, photography, and clothing designs. His work has been shown at prestigious institutions like the Smithsonian, and he has collaborated with major brands like Nike and Vans to create limited edition designs as well as The NTVS a clothing brand is a partner in.
In addition to his visual art, Judd has made a name for himself as a writer and filmmaker. He is a co-producer and writer on season two of AMC’s “”Dark Winds,”” set to premiere in the summer of 2023. He also co-wrote the pilot for Marvel’s “”Echo,”” which will be released soon, and recently optioned his book “”The Last Powwow”” to a major studio in Los Angeles. He has sold screenplays to Netflix, HBO, Disney, Marvel and Universal Studios.
Judd recently directed and wrote an adaptation for George RR Martin.
Judd is the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, including the 2016 United States Artists Fellowship and the ABC/Disney Writers Fellowship.
Through his art and storytelling, Judd offers a fresh perspective on the intersection of Native and American cultures. His work is both thought-provoking and entertaining, and he continues to inspire and delight audiences around the world”
Good Medicine Comedy with Jackie Keliiaa (Yerington Paiute / Washoe / Native Hawaiian)
Jackie Keliiaa is a stand-up comedian, writer, actor and producer based in Oakland, California. You can find her in the 2021 release, We Had a Little Real Estate Problem: The Unheralded Story of Native Americans & Comedy. She has been featured on Comedy Central, Team Coco, Illuminative’s 25 Native American Comedians to Follow, and was Comic of the Week on The Jackie And Laurie Show. She wrote for the Web Series You’re Welcome America, and has been featured in Vulture, Uproxx, the LA Times and KQED. Jackie has opened for Judah Friedlander, Nikki Glaser and was featured on the First Nations Comedy Experience streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Jackie is a regular at Bay Area venues and has performed at San Francisco SketchFest, Punch Line San Francisco and Cobb’s Comedy Club.
LOCATION: Krone Library, Idyllwild Arts Campus, 12-1pm
Movie is still TBD
Free admission.
LOCATION: Rustic Theatre – 54290 N Circle Dr, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA 92549, 7 pm
Good Medicine Comedy Showcase Hosted by Jackie Keliiaa (Yerington Paiute / Washoe / Native Hawaiian)
Guest Comedians include:
- Tatanka Means (Oglala Lakota, Omaha, Yankton Dakota and Diné) – HEADLINER
- Adrianne Chalepah (Kiowa)
- Wolf Brown (Akimel O’otham/Tohono O’odham)
Event starts at 7 pm with a welcome by Shaliyah Ben and Cahuilla Bird Singers.
This event is general admission, free, first come first serve.
LOCATION: Bowman Theatre
Special Thanks To Our Program Sponsors:
Native American Arts Summer Workshops and Festival Week – 2023
One World. One Idyllwild. The Series
The premiere of “One World. One Idyllwild. The Series” features Native American Chef Freddie Bitsoie. Chef Bitsoie is one of a few Native American chefs at the forefront of preparing, presenting, and educating about foods indigenous to the Americas. This conversation features commentary by Idyllwild Arts’ Director of Native American Arts Program and a live culinary presentation of select recipes from Bitsoie’s new book, “New Native Kitchen: Celebrating Modern Recipes of the American Indian.”
Native American Arts Summer Workshops and Festival Week – 2022 Recap
Past onsite offerings for Native American Arts have included:
- Art of Fire: Introduction to Glassblowing
- The Beaded Cuff
- Big Stories in Small-Scale & Wearable Art Casting
- Cahuilla Basketry
- Cahuilla-Style Pottery
- California Native Plants: Contemporary
& Traditional Medicinal Uses - Central California Coast Shell Jewelry & Figurines
- Finding Form: Encaustic in the Third Dimension
- Ho-Chunk Porcupine Embroidery
2023 Michael Kabotie Lecture Series:
FAQ’s
Due to the increased cost of running programs during the pandemic, we will not be offering marketing-based discounts like Bring a Friend and Pay In Full Today. Scholarships are still available for Native American students and Inland Empire teachers and graduate students.
“Thank You! Drawstring Bead & Quill Medicine Pouch was a new experience, my first time taking an online class. I also have never worked with porcupine quills; I was happy for this new understanding. Navajo Loom Beading/Cuff with Jennifer Ben was just as interesting, intricate and fascinating.
I have come away with a very beautiful Beaded Cuff and a very memorable experience. The real perk — taking the classes with my two granddaughters, 14- and 16-years-old.”
Yolanda Hart Stevens
Gila River Indian Community
Special thanks to the following benefactors, whose generous support makes our Native American Arts Program and Festival possible: Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Cahuilla Band of Indians, Chickasaw Nation, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians, San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, Soboba Foundation/Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations, and an Anonymous Foundation.
