“Hands of the Ancestors,” an exhibit by Stephanie Craig, runs in the Linfield Gallery in the Miller Fine Arts Center from April 2 through May 3, 2025. The exhibition features indigenous basketry, belongings and photos corresponding to Craig’s traditions and practice. The Linfield Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m.
The public is also invited to an opening reception with the artist from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 2. The artist will offer some remarks and insight into her process. Light refreshments will be served.
Craig is a seventh generation traditional basket weaver, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and Lifeways practitioner, and culture keeper and bearer. She is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde; her Mother’s people are Santiam and Yoncalla Kalapuya, Takelma Rogue River, Cow Creek Umpqua, and Wakanasisi Lower Chinook. Craig uses TEK methods, ancestral knowledge, archaeological methods and traditional plant fibers to create, revive and awaken centuries old art and ways of life through basketry. She has been consulting with museums and agencies for over 20 years.
Craig said of the exhibit:
Hands of the Ancestors is an immersive exploration of cultural continuity, resilience,and the sacred connection between people, land and tradition. This exhibit highlights the artistry and legacy of Native basketry, showcasing how these woven forms are more than objects — they are vessels of memory, identity, and knowledge passed down through generations. … By reviving and reclaiming these traditions, ‘Hands of the Ancestors’ serves as both a tribute and a call to action. It seeks to inspire a deeper understanding of Indigenous cultural lifeways while fostering the responsibility to protect and sustain them for future generations. Visitors are invited to witness the living legacy of Native craftsmanship, to see not only the beauty of these works but also the resilience, knowledge and spiritual connection they carry. This exhibit is not just about the past — it is about the present and future. It is a bridge between generations, a reaffirmation of identity, and a space where the wisdom of our ancestors continues to thrive in the hands of today’s makers.
This exhibition is sponsored by the Lacroute Arts Series and the Department of Art. For more information and directions, please visit www.linfield.edu/arts and follow all the events and activities of the Linfield Gallery and the Department of Art on Instagram.
