Alex Lewis and Lisa Leflore named Discovery Fellows
SWAIA has awarded its Discovery Fellowship to Alex Lewis (Cheyenne River Sioux/navajo) and Lisa Leflore (Fort Sill Apache). The fellowship exists to assist Native artists in exploring their artistic processes and encourage them to push boundaries in their art form. Funds awarded go to help artists purchase materials and equipment and to cover research expenses.
Lewis, an IAIA graduate and sculptor, will do a project alongside his 7-year-old son, documenting with Gopro cameras their journey of learning jewelry together. Leflore plans to re-create four of her tribe’s cultural artifacts, which are currently displayed behind glass, so that members of the tribe will be able to handle, study and appreciate them. She will interview elders, research the items’ histories and learn key technical skills before taking them “on the road.”