Indigenous Sea Stories Exhibit Opening

Founding members of the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers, in front on Shinnecock Bay. Photo Credit: Shinnecock Kelp Farmers

Community means working together to build a brighter future. A society needs artists, engineers, healers, farmers, historians, tradesmen, and countless other roles to thrive. This mirrors the way our ecosystems stay healthy—without the kelp, eelgrass, and cordgrass growing in the bays, there would be nowhere for our fish to grow. Without fish, there would be no food for ospreys, seals, and people living on our shores.

The Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center is proud to announce the Indigenous Sea Stories exhibit, curated by Ma’s House: BIPOC Art Studio while following the expertise of the Shinnecock Kelp Farmers. Funded by the National Parks Service Maritime Heritage grant, this exhibit features artworks by multiple Indigenous artists, showing the historical, cultural, and scientific significance of kelp.

Co-curators Jeremy Dennis and Brianna Hernández have organized 9 artists in this multi-media exhibition that will debut at Ma’s House: BIPOC Art Studio which serves as a communal art space based on the Shinnecock Indian Reservation in Southampton, New York. In addition to exhibitions, the studio features a residency program for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artists, a communal library, and more.

The Shinnecock Kelp Farmers are a collective of Indigenous women who are enrolled members of the Shinnecock Indian Nation. Their mission is to capture carbon and nitrogen that has poisoned the waters of Shinnecock Bay and beyond. They have provided insight into the year-round process of growing, nurturing, and harvesting kelp. This exhibit highlights their tireless work as they carry on a legacy of environmental stewardship.

Experience the exhibit at Ma’s House starting June 15th, or at the Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center on August 15th. What can you do to support your community?