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[cid:image002.jpg@01D73047.966917C0]NEWS RELEASE: April 13, 2021 MEDIA CONTACT: Julianna Verboort, Marketing and Communications Director, Washington State Historical Society, 253-343-7004 julianna.verboort@wshs.wa.gov<mailto:julianna.verboort@wshs.wa.gov> [cid:image004.jpg@01D73047.966917C0]Call for Native artist entries for the annual IN THE SPIRIT Contemporary Native Arts exhibition at the Washington State History Museum TACOMA, Wash - Applications are open for the annual IN THE SPIRIT Contemporary Native Arts<https://www.washingtonhistory.org/exhibit/in-the-spirit-contemporary-native-arts-2021/> exhibition, held each summer at the Washington State History Museum. The deadline for artists to submit work for consideration is May 7, 2021. Applications and guidelines can be found at www.WashingtonHistory.org/inthespirit-2021<http://www.WashingtonHistory.org/inthespirit-2021>. "This exhibition, now in its 16th annual iteration, is recognized for featuring some of the best-known and emerging contemporary Native artists in the Pacific Northwest," stated Molly Wilmoth, lead program manager at the Washington State Historical Society. "Each year a jury selects exhibition pieces from the applications we receive. We are also grateful for the guidance of an advisory committee who we collaborate with throughout the exhibition and festival planning process." [cid:image006.jpg@01D73047.966917C0]Todd Clark, Wailaki, continues his role as lead juror for the 2021 IN THE SPIRIT exhibition. Clark is the founder and curator of IMNDN.org<https://imndn.org/home.html>, a non-profit organization advocating for contemporary Native art and artists, and a program manager at the University of Washington's Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies. Clark said "It was contemporary Native artists who first showed me what it looked like to be Native and living in the 21st century, where we retained our past, heritage and culture, and yet thrived in the modern world." In addition to selecting works for the exhibition, the jury selects which works will receive awards presented by the Washington State Historical Society. Visitors to the exhibition are also invited to vote for two People's Choice awards. "It is an honor to have this annual opportunity to recognize the incredible creativity and skill of Native artists in our region," added Wilmoth. "It is especially meaningful in 2021, in light of the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous communities. An exhibition like this can underscore how history and art connect us all." For more information about artist applications or about the IN THE SPIRIT Contemporary Native Arts exhibition, email Molly Wilmoth at molly.wilmoth@wshs.wa.gov<mailto:molly.wilmoth@wshs.wa.gov>. # # # Image credits, top to bottom: Ancestors, 2020, Denise Emerson, Navajo and Skokomish enrolled. Plexiglass, 17x18 inches. Purchase prize, IN THE SPIRIT Contemporary Native Arts 2020 exhibition. Spirit Quest, 2020, George A. Zantua, Tlingit and Haida. Acrylic on canvas, 18.5x14.5 inches. Purchase prize, IN THE SPIRIT Contemporary Native Arts 2020 exhibition. About The Washington State Historical Society The Washington State Historical Society partners with our communities to explore how history connects us all. The Society's most visible activity, the Washington State History Museum (WSHM) is located in downtown Tacoma on Pacific Avenue. The museum features interactive permanent exhibitions about Washington's past in the Great Hall, unique rotating exhibitions highlighting the Society's collections, and dynamic feature exhibitions. Address: 1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402 Hours: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Tues.-Sun. On the third Thursday of each month: 10:00 AM-8:00 PM, with free admission from 3:00-8:00 PM. Admission: Free for members<http://www.washingtonhistory.org/support/membership/>; Adults $14; seniors (age 65+), students (age 6-17) and military (with ID) $11; free for children 5 and under; family rate $40 (up to two adults and four children under age 18). Patrons with a Washington Quest card<https://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/community-services-offices/ebt-and-eft-make-getting-benefits-easier> and licensed Washington Foster Parents can attend for $1 per person or $2 per family. Washington State Historical Society 1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402 Become a member! www.WashingtonHistory.org [cid:image001.png@01D64A2C.45C2A950]<https://www.facebook.com/historymuseum>[cid:image002.png@01D64A2C.45C2A950]<https://twitter.com/HistoryMuseum>[cid:image003.png@01D64A2C.45C2A950]<https://www.instagram.com/washingtonhistory/>[cid:image004.png@01D64A2C.45C2A950]<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZRXAl-JqixtE7toeX4BTrg/videos?view_as=subscriber>