The exhibition will run through Jan. 15, 2023.

Image by Eric Wilder: Culture Doesn’t Stop courtesy of the artist

While the Grace Hudson Museum has mounted numerous shows in its 36-year history presenting both historic and contemporary Native arts, and maintains a core gallery devoted solely to Pomo basketry, Gathering Time will be its first exhibition to exclusively showcase contemporary Pomo artists and the diversity of mediums in which they work.

The Museum engaged Meyo Marrufo, an established artist, curator, and educator, from the Robinson Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians to guest curate the exhibition. “Meyo has extensive connections with Pomo communities and artists throughout the local region,” says Museum director David Burton. “It is incredibly important when presenting any sort of programming about Native peoples that we have the guidance, perspective, and voice of content experts and interpreters from those communities, and Meyo certainly has provided that.”

Marrufo’s recent curatorial credits include exhibitions at the Museum of Northern California in Chico and at the Mendocino Art Center. She was also a collaborating community curator for the exhibition Jules Tavernier and the Elem Pomo, organized and presented by The Metropolitan Museum in New York and the de Young Museum in San Francisco.

“For our show,” Burton continues, “it was very important to Meyo that the pandemic play a significant role, given its impact and relevancy.” Marrufo drew on material that was predominantly made after the onset of COVID-19. “The art,” says Marrufo, “reflects the trauma of the pandemic in Pomo communities, but also the power of the arts — both traditional and modern — to connect individuals and promote healing.” She further remarks that Pomo peoples have always been superb artists. “Art is in our genetic memory. Just as Pomo people used art as a survival method during previous traumatic events, including earlier pandemics, they did so over the last few years.”

Traditionally, “gathering time” is when Pomo peoples come together with one another to harvest basketry materials and traditional foods, and to share traditions and stories. The exhibition provides an avenue for gathering of a different kind, one that both demonstrates the resiliency of Pomo peoples and celebrates the power of creativity to reaffirm their cultures.

The museum has planned a number of programs throughout the fall to accompany the exhibition. These include three in-person artist panels, an Acorn Day, and a pop-up exhibition.

Gathering Time: Pomo Art During the Pandemic was made possible by generous support from Sherwood Valley Rancheria, Robinson Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, Guidiville Indian Rancheria, Shingle Springs Band of Wiwok Indians, and California Humanities, a nonprofit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit www.calhum.org

The Grace Hudson Museum is at 431 S. Main St. in Ukiah. For more information please go to www.gracehudsonmuseum.org or call (707) 467-2836.