November 1, 2016
IAIA Artists-in-Residence, Nakkita Trimble spent time exploring the Coe Center’s extensive collection of global indigenous arts and by doing so she found points of connection and inspiration for her own artistic practice. Working hands-on with the encyclopedic collection, Trimble selected works from the Coe collection to share in dialogue with her own artwork. This event paired mini curation with public conversations to investigate how an artist finds inspiration through the work of others and what can be learned by artists and viewers from this process.
Nakkita Trimble (Nisga’a and Tlingit) Nisga’a name is Algaxhl Gwilksk’alt’amtkw, which translates to speaking through her art. Her ayukws is the Ganaaw or frog, and she is from the House of, or Wilps Axdii Wil Luu-Gooda. Her family is maternally from Gingolx. Nakkita’s great grandparents are Rose (Gurney) and Christopher Trimble. Rose and Chris were one of the last arranged marriages in Gingolx. Nakkita was born and raised in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. She graduated from Prince Rupert Secondary School June 2005, and began her art education September 2007. Her tattooing career began in 2012 and progressed into reviving traditional coastal gihlee’e as a means to reawakening the Nisga’a tattooing art form in her nation. Driven by her passion to learn more about Nisga’a art and culture, Nakkita worked with Nisga’a Elders and undertook research to learn about and identify the significance of traditional Nisga’a tattoos.
The IAIA Artist-in-Residence Program provides opportunities for Native and First Nations artists from the selected regions to come to the Institute of American Indian Arts campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico for a month of art-making and interaction with IAIA students, staff/faculty, and the Santa Fe arts community. Applicants whose work engages with cultural traditions through materials, techniques and/or subject matter are particularly encouraged to apply. The Coe Center is honored to be a partner with IAIA the IAIA Artist-in-Residence Program.
