See indigenous artists' work, try hands-on art activities at free Akron Art Museum event

Folks can try their hand at photo weaving and making their own nature mandalas, see and hear about native plant life in a garden tour and learn about contemporary indigenous artists in the Akron Art Museum's collection at North American First People's Day Monday.

The free event, which will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1 S. High St. in Akron, honors the first people who walked the Portage Path and aims to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of North American indigenous art and culture.

"We recognize that art has been an integral part of Indigenous cultures for centuries, serving as a means of storytelling, preserving history and connecting communities," museum Director and CEO Jon Fiume said in his weekly letter Friday.

In the artmaking activities, photo weaving is inspired by the 2022 work "Gold Rush, Sacramento"by Sarah Sense, which is part of the museum collection. Her work is inspired by Choctaw and Chitimacha basket-weaving patterns.

The public will make nature mandalas by combining natural objects and materials in a collaged pattern.

The event is free but registration is requested. For more information and to register, see akronartmuseum.org/calendar.

At 1 p.m. in the Bud and Susie Rogers Garden, the museum will unveil a newly adopted land acknowledgment — a statement of respect for indigenous lands and a recognition of colonial occupation of those lands.

At 1:30 p.m., Summit Metro Parks naturalist Karen Koch will give a native wildlife tour in the garden. Space for the garden tour is limited and requires a separate registration at akronartmuseum.org/media/events/nafpd-garden-tour.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron Art Museum hosts free North American First People's Day Monday