Maker-in-Residence: Meztli Projects

Meztli Projects(opens in new tab) is a collective of contemporary Indigenous artists that promotes the creative development of Native and Indigenous Peoples by providing an ecosystem that reconnects generations, supports cultural production, and contributes to knowledge building and transmission.

As Maker-in-Residence at Craft Contemporary, their residency, entitled Laboratorio Fuego Medicinal, explores fire as ritual and material force. The project centers natural dyes, textiles, and artistic forms rooted in Indigenous cosmogony, drawing particularly on California's unique native plants and minerals that, when fired, produce a broader range of natural colors than found anywhere else in the world.

Throughout the duration of this exhibition, a series of bi-weekly programs will include Indigenous dyeing and weaving practices, beading and basketry worships, school visits, and a wide range of artist-led events, with a focus on underserved communities.

The Meztli Project is led by Joel Garcia. Collaborators include Program Manager Kenneth Lopez, River Garza, Kimberly Robertson, Miguelaxel Bustos Burolla, Isaac Michael Ybarra, Aanii Tate, and Jazrin Ybarra.