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HomeCommunityTwo-Spirit Art Exhibit opening at 101 Archer on April 5

Two-Spirit Art Exhibit opening at 101 Archer on April 5

The exhibit will feature Osage singer/songwriter Marx Cassity

A new exhibit that explores Indigenous identities is coming to the University of Tulsa’s 101 Archer, thanks to a partnership between Twisted Arts and the Oklahoma Center for the Humanities.

“Harmony of Duality: A Two-Spirit Journey” celebrates and honors the rich diversity of gender, sexuality, and cultural heritage within Indigenous communities. Featuring an array of artworks, this exhibit invites attendees to embark on a visual journey that intertwines tradition with contemporary perspectives. 

The exhibit features the work of eight local artists, including Carle Artiste, Dan Rocky, Peshawn Bread, Bayleigh Fields, Kira Hayen, Tom Farris, Marx Cassity, and Matika Wilbur, and includes a small tribute to Nex Benedict.

Cassity, an Osage singer/songwriter from the Pawhuska District, released 2Sacred in November of last year. 2Sacred is a collection of 10 songs that Marx created working alongside engineer Justin Phelps (Amanda Palmer, Joe Satriani, Chris Isaak). The album explores what it means to be Two-Spirit – a Native American LGBTQ+ person who often fulfills traditional gender variant ceremonial and social roles in their cultures – and one who has learned to love and accept themselves and pursue art as an act of devotion.

Marx, who was called a “songwriter to be reckoned with” by No Depression and works under their given name Marca as a trauma therapist serving LGBTQ+ and Native clients, is an enrolled member of the Osage Nation. Marx placed an X in their name for the creation of 2Sacred in honor of the history of gender diversity in tribal societies around the world.

“Harmony of Duality” opens during the April First Friday Art Crawl on April 5 at 6 p.m. It will run through April 27. Admission is free.

The exhibit ties into a three-day festival later this month that celebrates the two-spirit identity and creativity. “2-Spirit Fest” is open to the public and celebrates diverse artistic expressions deeply rooted in traditional Native cultures. Attendees can look forward to musical performances by both local and non-local artists, captivating video installations, dynamic drumming and dancing, an artist market, and an insightful panel discussion.

The festival will take place statewide across several venues—including the First American Museum in Oklahoma City on April 18, the Oklahoma Center for Humanities in Tulsa on April 19, and Wompa on April 20. You can find a full itinerary on Twisted Arts’ website.

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  • Osage News Staff

    Stories that are not primarily written by an Osage News staff member will have a “Osage News” byline. These stories include press releases and other community content that was drafted by someone externally but reviewed and approved for publication by Osage News. As an independent news organization, we strive to report news and information with fairness and balance. While being the official news organization of the Osage Nation, we base our news judgements on our loyalties to our readers and Osage citizens, and we are not directly beholden to the Executive, Legislative, or Judicial branches of the Osage Nation.

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Osage News Staff
Osage News Staffhttps://osagenews.org
Stories that are not primarily written by an Osage News staff member will have a “Osage News” byline. These stories include press releases and other community content that was drafted by someone externally but reviewed and approved for publication by Osage News. As an independent news organization, we strive to report news and information with fairness and balance. While being the official news organization of the Osage Nation, we base our news judgements on our loyalties to our readers and Osage citizens, and we are not directly beholden to the Executive, Legislative, or Judicial branches of the Osage Nation.
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