Angela Two Stars’ Gift for Celebrating and Supporting Native Artists

On today’s show, we talk with Angela Two Stars (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate) a public artist, curator, and director of All My Relations Arts, the art gallery at the Native American Community Development Institute in Minneapolis. Angela shares her enthusiasm for supporting contemporary Native Artists, and her passion for appreciating Native artwork without viewing it through a Euro-centric lens.   Angela also shares her commitment to raising awareness of the endangered status of her tribe’s language, as well as others’, and draws attention to the critical need for language revitalization efforts.

While she is always on the lookout for ways to create opportunities for other artists, Angela Two Stars is renowned for her own artwork. Her professional arts career began at All My Relations Arts gallery as an exhibiting artist, which then led to her first curatorial role for the exhibition titled, Bring Her Home, Stolen Daughters of Turtle Island, a powerful exhibition highlighting the ongoing epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Angela’s public art graces the shores of Bde Maka Ska and honors the Dakota people of Mni Sota.  She has also been commissioned by the Walker Art Center to create a new work of public art at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden in the fall of 2021.

Miigwech Angela for sharing your gift for art and your passion for artists and the power of creative expression.

Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine is produced by Minnesota Native News and Ampers, Diverse Radio for Minnesota’s Communities with support from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage fund.

Subscribe to Native Lights wherever you get your podcasts

More from Native Lights

• The Gift of Listening: Colleen Baldrica on writing, being guided, and mentoring others
  In this episode, we chat with author and retired school counselor Colleen Baldrica. Colleen, a White Earth Nation citizen, authored the book Tree Spirited Woman in 2006. During the pandemic, she recorded the audio version, so that her grandchildren could have an archive of her voice when they’re older. Colleen shares the experience – central …
• 
  Indigenous lifeways as solutions: Wakinyan LaPointe on staying grounded in the cultural teachings of song and the intelligence of Indigenous youth activists
  In this episode, we chat with human rights advocate, singer, storyteller, and University of Minnesota-Twin Cities American Studies doctoral student Wakinyan LaPointe. Wakinyan, a Sicangu (Burnt Thigh) Lakota citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, focuses his studies on Indigenous rights, human rights, and youth organizing. He describes how his work with Indigenous young people, Indigenous …
• 
  Building bridges through story: Ajuawak Kapashesit on playing with genre, the power of story, and making action figure movies as a kid
  In this episode, we sit down with Minneapolis-based actor, writer, and director Ajuawak Kapashesit. Ajuawak, who is Ojibwe, Cree, and Jewish, grew up in Ontario and on the White Earth Reservation. His acting credits include Indian Horse (2017), Once Upon a River (2019), Indian Road Trip (2020), Bad Blood (CityTV/Netflix), and Outlander (Starz/Sony). Ajuawak’s short …