The Museum of Indian Arts & Culture (MIAC) in Santa Fe will open a new exhibition, Essential Elements: Art, Environment, and Indigenous Futures, in October 2025. The exhibition explores climate change and environmental degradation from the perspective of Native art and traditional ecological knowledge. It will be held in the JoAnn and Bob Balzer Native Market and Contemporary Art Gallery and coincides with the museum’s Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration on Sunday, October 12.
Essential Elements focuses on the four classical elements—Earth, Air, Fire, and Water—and their significance to Indigenous cultures. The exhibition features works by artists Leah Mata Fragua, Michael Namingha, Shayla Blatchford, Mallery Quetawki, Tony Abeyta, Rowan Harrison, Bob Haozous, and Cannupa Hanska Luger. Luger's short film New Myth will also be screened as part of the event.
“Indigenous communities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis,” said Danyelle Means, Executive Director of the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture. “Essential Elements uplifts the voices of Native artists who are drawing on traditional knowledge to confront the realities of environmental change. This exhibition challenges all of us to see the deep interconnection between culture, land, and sustainability, and to act before more is lost.”
The exhibition presents visual art, film screenings, and community-based practices that address issues such as droughts, wildfires, extractive industries' impact on land use and biodiversity loss. It also highlights how Indigenous knowledge systems contribute to sustainable solutions for future generations.
On Indigenous Peoples Day—October 12—the museum will host several public programs related to culture and environmental stewardship. Activities include air-dry clay projects under the Outdoor Ramada; Indian Tea (Cota) bundling; storytelling sessions for children at Roland’s Discovery Center; performances by White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers at Milner Plaza; a free Pueblo food event at Meem Auditorium; a presentation about Apache culture by Kenny Duncan from San Carlos Apache; an encore dance performance; and a guided tour of Essential Elements with Head of Curatorial Affairs Elisa Phelps.
Admission to MIAC will be free that day due to support from Sandia Resort and Casino as well as Pueblo of Sandia.
The Museum of Indian Arts & Culture operates under New Mexico's Department of Cultural Affairs through its Board of Regents. Its programs receive funding from the Museum of New Mexico Foundation along with private donors. The museum's mission is “to serve as a center of stewardship, knowledge, and understanding of the artistic, cultural, and intellectual achievements of the diverse peoples of the Native Southwest.”
