Sunset Exhibitions: Dance, Sing, Drum
Overview
See the special exhibition Jeffrey Gibson: the space in which to place me for free and experience the first installment of Sunset Exhibitions, which showcases Glen Begay (Navajo/Diné) and the Bearspring singers and drummers alongside twenty intertribal dancers, organized by Candido Cornejo Jr. (Tlaxcalan, Nahua), who will demonstrate 10 distinct dances. Special guest Eric Hernandez (Lumbee) will also be on hand to demonstrate hoop dance for which he holds the title of World Champion.
Sunset Exhibitions at The Broad celebrate the thriving Indigenous and Native cultures abundant in Southern California through vibrant demonstrations of dance, drumming, and singing. These art forms, whether used for storytelling, prayer, or connecting to nature and ancestry, are not only being preserved, but also reinvigorated for contemporary audiences by practitioners today. Sunset Exhibitions provide a platform for our robust and varied local Native communities from many parts of the continent to share in the joy of gathering outdoors, honoring history, and acknowledging the present moment as the sun sets over Tovangaar, the original name for the Los Angeles Basin and surrounding areas. The term “Exhibition” is used to differentiate dances and other performances which are intended for demonstration from Pow Wow dances, which are competitive.
These demonstrations will take place outside on East West Bank Plaza. General admission to The Broad is always free. Every Thursday between 5 and 8 pm, Gibson’s exhibition is also free to visit.
Photos 1 and 3 by Jojo Karsh; Photo 2 courtesy of Eric Hernandez
Free tickets include same-day access to The Broad, including Jeffrey Gibson: the space in which to place me, from 5 - 8 pm and our third floor collection galleries. Tickets to this event do not include access to Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Room—The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away (2013), and must be booked separately. To learn more and plan your trip, visit Know Before You Go & FAQ. Visitor policies are subject to change.
Schedule
Biographies
Lazaro Arvizu Jr.
Lazaro Arvizu Jr. is an artist, educator, musician, and researcher dedicated to the culture of the first people of Los Angeles. Born in the Los Angeles Basin, he is knowledgeable of the landscape and cosmology of the Gabrielino culture. He has worked for over 20 years facilitating creative and meaningful cultural experiences to people of all ages and walks of life, in many venues.
Photo courtesy of the artist
Glen Begay and Bearspring
Our family set up as Bearspring for the first time at a small pow wow on the Morongo Reservation at a feed store in 1992. There, we borrowed a drum from a group that was traveling home to Phoenix, AZ. From that humble beginning, our drum group has grown, and we have traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada for almost 30 years. We are involved in our local community, and we assist various organizations with dance workshops, traditional knowledge workshops, drum workshops, and other workshops as requested by the community and organizations. Our music has given us the opportunities to be involved in various festivals, films, and recordings. One recording of note is a compilation with other artists from the U.S. and Canada at the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in 1999 which won the first ever Native American Music category award at the Grammys. Since that time, we have had many blessings. We love our music and sharing our music along with our culture. Our drum group is named Bearspring because we come from Shush-bi-toh, which is the Navajo translation for “Bear’s spring.” In our stories of how our clan system came about, the first people were traveling with their protectors, and one of them was a bear. As they traveled, they stayed in a cave, and water was nowhere to be found. One morning they found the bear laying outside with mud on its claws, so they tracked it, and found that the bear had dug out water in this valley. To this day that water still comes out from the ground. Additionally, our Great-Grandfather’s name was Hosteen Shushbitoh and our name honors his memory and teachings. Hosteen Shushbitoh was a well-respected medicine man in our community and his legacy lives on through the teachings he has passed down within our family.
Photo by Jojo Karsh
Candido Cornejo Jr.
Candido Cornejo Jr. is a Two Spirit Tlaxcalteca/Nahua Jingle Dress Dancer and Bruja. Candido is also casting professional with over 14 years of experience in the entertainment industry and a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, particularly for the Latine and trans/non-binary communities. Candido is currently an appointed Board Member of the Casting Society and has launched the 2023 "Mi Gente!" Global Open Call for Latine Actors Initiative.
Photo by Jojo Karsh
Eric Hernandez
Eric Hernandez (Lumbee) has over 20 years of expertise in the art of Native American hoop dance. As the lead character in Cirque du Soleil's Totem, he has graced stages across 20 countries, captivating over 10 million people. A world champion, TEDx speaker, and ambassador for Native American culture, Eric challenges stereotypes, aiming to rewrite cultural narratives. With nearly 1/2 million followers on social media, Eric uses his platforms to share the richness of Native traditions, wisdom, and the artistry of hoop dance, inspiring others to navigate life with grace and beauty. Collaborating with industry giants like Cirque du Soleil, Red Bull, Virgin Voyages, Deloitte, and Nike, he brings his culture to diverse audiences. He’s not just a performer; he’s a rising star in the social media world, blending indigenous wisdom with modern flavors, uniting the next generation of Native American creators. Join him in breaking stereotypes, celebrating traditions, and showcasing the modern brilliance of Native American culture.
Photo courtesy of the artist
Jeffrey Gibson
Born in Colorado in 1972, interdisciplinary artist Jeffrey Gibson is a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and of Cherokee descent. Gibson received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1995 and his Master of Arts in painting from the Royal College of Art, London, in 1998. Throughout his career, Gibson has centered Indigenous and LGBTQ+ perspectives, exploring cultural authenticity, stereotypes of Native people, and how aesthetics circulate amongst different groups. Vibrant colors, geometric patterns and found objects are common throughout his art, resulting in a distinct visual language that celebrates interconnectedness and assemblage.
Photo by Brian Barlow
About Sunset Exhibitions
Sunset Exhibitions at The Broad celebrate the thriving Indigenous and Native cultures abundant in Southern California through vibrant demonstrations of dance, drumming, and singing. These art forms, whether used for storytelling, prayer, or connecting to nature and ancestry, are not only being preserved, but also reinvigorated for contemporary audiences by practitioners today. Sunset Exhibitions provide a platform for our robust and varied local Native communities from many parts of the continent to share in the joy of gathering outdoors, honoring history, and acknowledging the present moment as the sun sets over Tovangaar, the original name for The Los Angeles Basin and surrounding areas. The term “Exhibition” is used to differentiate dances and other performances which are intended for demonstration from Pow Wow dances, which are competitive.
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