Visions of a Living Culture Exhibition

Visions of a Living Culture
Scripps College Clark Humanities Museum
Curated by Kim Marcus and Pitzer College Assistant Professor of Media Studies, Gina
Lamb and students in Media Arts for Social Justice; Linnea Rosenberg, Jacob Schoenherr,
Emma Stolarski, Josephine Terrien, & Aria Tung. Photo projects by Noli Indian High School
students, Elias Arviso, Mario Castellano, Jarrod Chapparosa, and Canaan Tubby.
Traditional Elder/Ceremonial Leader Kim Marcus explores the cultural legacy of Cahuilla
and Serrano Cultures. Experience these two cultures through the eyes of a Serrano and
Cahuilla Elder. The exhibit brings these two cultures to life through historical and personal
artifacts, traditional regalia, basketry, ancient songs and stories, photographs, customs,
traditions (past and present), language, ceramics, Coyote Dance, and Bird Songs. Marcus,
Native Youth, and Media Studies students collaborate to create a series of videos that
bring past to present in reflective storytelling projects.
Complimenting the unique array of sacred and utilitarian objects pulled from tradition,
students from Noli Indian School present powerful self-portraits that challenge their
erasure from colonial American history and contemporary politics. By responding to
Edward Curtis’ romantic photographs of North American Indian tribes taken in the early
20th century, this generation of native youth subverts the oppressive misconception that
indigenous people have vanished and their practices are lost in the oblivion of modernity.
Visions privileges the testimonies and celebrates the ways of life of an Indigenous Nation
in close proximity to the Claremont Colleges. Kim Marcus is from San Manuel and
Santa Rosa Indian Reservation. He has been the Head Counselor and Cultural Director for
Noli Indian High School on the Soboba Reservation since 2001. Mr. Marcus holds a B.A.
in Business Administration, Master’s Degree & PHD in Psychology (Addiction Specialist)
and has a California Teacher’s Credential in Native American Language. Kim Marcus has
worked with many local college and university programs raising awareness of Cahuilla and
Serrano culture.
VISIONS OF A LIVING CULTURE
Opens Saturday, April 14th and will be on display through May 12th, 2018
This exhibition is made possible through the generous contributions of Kim Marcus and the students
at Noli Indian School, funding from Intercollegiate Media Studies, Pitzer Office of the Dean of Faculty,
Pitzer Community Engagement Center, and loans from the Pomona College Museum of Art and Honnold
Mudd Library Special Collections.
Exhibition photo documentation by Ruben Diaz
For more info contact: Gina Lamb gina_lamb@pitzer.edu or Kim Marcus kmarcus@soboba-nsn.gov