Throughout Native American Heritage Month, the University, in collaboration with The Heard Museum’s Native Artists Resource Group, displayed prints crafted by Native American veterans along the walls of the ArtSpace West gallery on the West Valley Campus from Nov. 8 to Nov. 22.
The concept was brought to life with two three-day workshops taught by Jacob Meders, an associate professor of interdisciplinary arts and performance. The workshop showed veterans the process of making, carving and block printing — a traditional Indigenous art form. Later, their work was displayed in the ArtSpace West gallery.
Block printing is “carving into blocks and then picking them up and printing them to the press,” according to Meders.
“It’s not about what you get out of it for yourself, it’s about what do you do for others,” Meders said. “It’s more meaningful.”
The Native Veterans Print Exhibition was created by Marcus Monenerkit, the director of community management at the Heard Museum.
“The Native veterans have been healing through the arts for generations,” Monenerkit said. “As you know, the past warriors would come home and take part in ceremonies, and that ceremony is art.”
For this project, Monenerkit wanted to provide a safe space to “create and to be free and to be with other veterans.”
Today is Native American Heritage Day, a time to celebrate the cultures and history of indigenous peoples in the Southwest. Discover their traditions and history year-round at the Heard Museum. Plan your visit and experience the diversity of indigenous cultures. pic.twitter.com/U7IArv5Fiw
— Heard Museum (@HeardMuseum) November 24, 2023
The printing workshop was not only about the art itself but also the effect it can have on others.
“Instead, it is focused on the purpose of art. Art is a purposeful…


