A Shell in the Sky | Midewigaan Migis

Yerkes is honored to welcome all to the Ceremonial Opening of our newest exhibit: A Shell in the Sky | Midewigaan Migis. Co-curated by Noelia Cruz alongside the artists, this immersive exhibition of Anishinaabe art, star knowledge, and living culture centers the collective wisdom of distinguished elders, artists, cultural teachers, authors, and knowledge keepers.

Visitors are invited to learn from and with the stars through stories that have been tended on these lands since time immemorial, and experience Anishinaabe astronomy across multiple mediums. Basketry, beading, visual arts, performing arts, NSTEAM, and astrophotography will be represented. Each reflects the deep interconnections between land stewardship, water-sky relationships, language, and culture. This is made possible through the generosity of the Council of the Three Fires: Ojibwe, Odawa, and Bodéwadmi.  

Join us on June 6, 2026 from 6pm – 9pm for the Ceremonial Opening of the exhibit, including a keynote from esteemed elder Bwaananaabekwe Mary Moose, an artist panel, and open exploration of the exhibit. Reserve your space for this event on our ticketing website.

About the Artists — from curator Noelia Cruz

Visitors are guided by the teachings of Bwaananaabekwe Mary Moose, the esteemed elder, author, and star knowledge keeper. They are also guided by the lens of astrophotographer Mishiikenh Abraham Sutherland whose images reveal the astrometry and teachings of Ojibwe constellations in a collection exhibited here for the first time.

Bmejwen Kyle Malott draws on historical ties and language connections to present Bodéwadmi star stories through an action-based and digitally designed Star Map. Exhibited in a large-scale projection, this creates an immersive and interactive experience.

Beading artist Iah Q presents a multidisciplinary work in a canvas dedicated to the universal significance of the Great Lakes Loon. The piece combines beadwork, language, illustration, and graphic design.

In the library, books by Leonard Moose and Mary Moose deepen visitors’ understanding of the universe and the Loon’s profound connection to the stars. These works include Maang | Loon, Madoodiswan | Sweatlodge, Bagone-Giizhig | The Hole in the Sky, and Inhabiting the Earth. 

Photographer Sharon Hoogstraten’s series Dancing with My Tribe offers a visionary document of astronomy, history, and cultural permanence witnessed in the regalia, gatherings, and stories of contemporary dancers and citizens across Potawatomi Nations.

Dylan Loonsfoot’s intricate strawberry basket interweaves seven generations of master artistry and teaching from the distinguished Pigeon Family, a living lineage of basketmakers.

David Martin presents artworks rendered on the heart of a drum skin honoring the profound ancestral practice of indigenous tattooing.

The sculptural and ceremonial Jingle Dress was created by the dancer, fashion designer, and cultural steward Aerius Benton-Banai. This work offers a tribute to Mishipeshu, the Underwater Panther, in the spirit of deep historical and geographical significance to the shores of Kishwauketoe | Geneva Lake, the skies above, and the waters of the Great Lakes.