American Indian Arts Festival

Join the Autry on June 8 and 9 for a fun-filled weekend perfect for the whole family! We look forward to welcoming you to celebrate contemporary and traditional Native art forms at the Autry Museum of the American West’s 33rd Annual American Indian Arts Festival where you can purchase one-of-a-kind artwork, jewelry and fashion.

Schedule of Events:
10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Linoleum Block Printing Workshop & Live Paint with River Garza

Ethnobotanical Garden

Discover the art of linoleum block printing, using designs created by artist River Tikwi Garza (Tongva), who was inspired by Tongva iconography, basket patterns and elements of his own artistic practice.

River will be live painting a new art piece on site throughout the festival, and you can also see some of his completed work in our exhibitions, California Continued: Human Nature and Reclaiming El Camino: Native Resistance in the Missions and Beyond.

11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Waging Words: Poetry by Indigenous Women

Sprague Gallery

In-gallery poetry readings by established and emerging Native poets, exploring their lived-experience as Indigenous women living in Los Angeles and responding to the themes and ideas in the exhibition Reclaiming El Camino. Curated by Pamela J. Peters (Navajo).

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Sundance Institute Short Film Screenings

Autry Theater

The 2024 Sundance Indigenous Shorts Tour comprises 7 shorts from the past two years of the Sundance Film Festival and one legacy short from Indigenous Program Alumni and creator of Reservation Dogs, Sterlin Harjo. Introduction by Adam Piron (Kiowa/Mohawk) Director, Sundance Institute’s Indigenous Program.

Bay of Herons (2023) Directed by Jared James Lank
Winding Path (2024) Directed by Alexandra Lazarowich and Ross Kauffman
Headdress (2023) Directed by Tai Leclaire and David Spadora
Ekbeh (2023) Directed by Mariah Eli Hernandez-Fitch
Baigal Nuur – Lake Baikal (2023) Directed by Alisi Telengut
Hawaiki (2023) Directed by Nova Paul
Sunflower Siege Engine (2023) Directed by Sky Hopinka
Goodnight Irene (2005) Directed by Sterlin Harjo

2 p.m. | EMBERS Young Native Playwrights Festival

Autry Theater

Storytelling is a way to preserve culture and language, which is why Native Voices is thrilled to bring back its Young Native Playwrights program, but this time with a post-pandemic twist! With the help of Zoom, Native youth from across Turtle Island will participate in an eight-week playwriting course that will nourish, elevate, and amplify their voices. Plays written will be performed live onstage at the Autry, as well as livestreamed, so that these Young Playwrights, their families, and their communities can see that their voice is valid and their stories matter.