The Church in Sag Harbor presents the opening of “Eternal Testament,” an exhibit curated by Jeremy Dennis & Meranda Roberts, Ph.D. The show reaffirms that Sag Harbor, including The Church, occupies the traditional homelands of the Montaukett and Shinnecock Nations. By featuring works by Native artists regionally and from across the country that incorporate wit, irreverence, and playfulness — tools for survival and healing — the exhibition asserts Indigenous presence and sovereignty as artists reclaim space, “temporarily transforming a site of forced assimilation into one of resistance and refusal,” according to Roberts.
Juxtaposing themes of whaling, indenture, land loss, and Western religious and spiritual iconography with playful yet pointed commentary, the exhibition invites viewers to reconsider their perceptions of Eastern Long Island, raising critical questions about how viewers engage with Indigenous history. The exhibit features artists Natalie Ball, Jim Denomie, Denise Silva Dennis, River Garza, Elisa Harkins, Emily Johnson, Chaz John, Cannupa Hanska Luger, Rachel Martin, David Bunn Martine, New Red Order, Jaune Quick To See Smith, Adrienne Terry, Tyrell Typaha, Marie Watt, and more.
Jeremy Dennis is a contemporary fine-art photographer, an enrolled tribal member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation in Southampton, and lead artist and founder of the nonprofit Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio, Inc. on the Shinnecock Reservation. In his work, he explores Indigenous identity, culture, and assimilation.
Dr. Meranda Roberts, a citizen of the Yerington Paiute Tribe and Chicana, holds a Ph.D. in history and an M.A. in public history from the University of California, Riverside. She is a visiting professor in the art history department at Pomona College and serves on the Scholarly Advisory Committee for the Smithsonian Women’s History Museum, where she advocates for inclusive representation of Indigenous histories.
An opening reception will be held on Saturday, March 22, from 6 to 7:30 PM. The exhibition will be on view through May 21.