Minnesota-based interdisciplinary artist Rosy Simas opened a contemplative installation titled "A:gajë:gwah dësa’nigöëwë:nye:' (i hope it will stir your mind)" at the Walker Art Center on the same day that Trump-appointed border czar Tom Homan announced the end of Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities. The installation features salt bottles made from woven corn husks, each honoring one of Simas's relatives, and is inspired by the teachings of Handsome Lake (Ganyodaiyo’), her fifth great-grandfather’s half-brother, who promoted the Seneca concept of a "good mind." The exhibition, on view through July 5, is part of a two-part project that also includes performances in May. Simas, known primarily for choreography, has increasingly gained recognition as a visual artist, recently receiving a Creative Capital Award.
This article matters because it highlights how contemporary Indigenous artists are creating spaces for peace and reflection amid politically charged and traumatic events, such as federal immigration raids. Simas's work offers a model for art as a site of healing and community engagement, challenging the static nature of museum exhibitions by emphasizing iterative, relational experiences. It also underscores the growing visibility of Native American artists in major institutions like the Walker Art Center, and the intersection of visual art, performance, and cultural activism in responding to systemic oppression.