Ascending: The Liberation of Native Art Artist Talk
Event Details
August 13, 2026 at 6 p.m.
WaterFire Arts Center Main Hall
Join us in conversation with artists Scott Foster and Miciah Stasis-Harding to learn more about their work in Ascending: The Liberation of Native Art.
Scott Foster (Hassanamisco Nipmuc)
Scott’s photography reflects his travels throughout the ancestral homelands of Indigenous Peoples of New England. Through images made at powwows, cultural gatherings, and longstanding community practices, his work highlights the living presence, diversity, and strength of Indigenous cultures today. His photographs capture mood and emotion, inviting viewers into moments shaped by connection and experience. Guided by his philosophy, “Capture the Moment… Share the Experience,” Scott uses the camera to honor community, land, and the enduring traditions that continue to shape Indigenous life.
Miciah Stasis-Harding (Herring Pond Wampanoag)
Miciah is a traditional tattoo practitioner, wampum artist, and quill worker from the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts. She carries forward ancestral practices of storytelling, healing, and cultural revitalization through her art, traveling across Turtle Island to offer traditional hand-poked tattooing. Her work with wampum and quillwork reflects a commitment to keeping these art forms alive for future generations. Centering cultural survival, healing, and kinship, Miciah’s artistry serves as a vessel for reclaiming practices once threatened and strengthening community connections.
Participating Artists:
Artist Statements Page
Tomaquag Museum & Contributing Artists:
Raphael Champlin, enrolled Narragansett Citizen, elder; Robin Spears Jr., enrolled Narragansett Citizen, elder; Robert Jones, enrolled Narragansett Citizen; Sherenté Harris, enrolled Narragansett Citizen; Vange Hopkins, enrolled Narragansett Citizen; Mikala Jackson, Paiute, Shoshone; Robin Spears III., enrolled Narragansett Citizen; Pummukau Harris, enrolled Narragansett Citizen, youth; and Olivia Carter, enrolled Narragansett Citizen, youth
Companion Exhibition
Ascending: The Liberation of Native Art
Presented by CEDAR NATION and sponsored by The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center
Visitors begin their experience in the WaterFire Arts Center gallery with Ascending: The Liberation of Native Art before continuing into America, Unfinished?! in the Main Hall.
Curated by Brooke Waldron, Ascending brings together Native artists from across the Northeast whose work reflects generations of cultural knowledge, creative practice, and self-determined expression. Together, the exhibitions invite audiences to engage with questions of identity, belonging, history, and the stories that continue to shape our collective future.
Exhibition Hours
Wednesday–Sunday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursdays | Open late until 9:00 p.m.
Closed Mondays + Tuesdays
Note: Closed to the public on Thursday, July 23, for a private event.
Interested in bringing a group?
Guided tours can be arranged during open hours, and with advance notice, we may also be able to accommodate tours on Mondays or Tuesdays. To inquire or schedule, please contact Eli Yung at eli@waterfire.org.
Organizer
