Past Exhibitions

Reverberations: Roots of the Cedar Tree

September 13–December 1, 2023

“Artists provide the contemporary metaphors that allow us to realize the transcendent, infinite, and abundant nature of being as it is.” – Joseph Campbell

Reverberations: Roots of the Cedar Tree brings together photographs by Stephen Alvarez from the Ancient Art Archive with contemporary paintings and sculptures by Dustin Mater (Chickasaw).

An internationally awarded photojournalist and National Geographic photographer, Stephen Alvarez founded the Ancient Art Archive to share the world’s oldest rock images with a global audience, creating a living archive that allows viewers from around the world to experience awe, wonder, and connection through history and across cultures. The Ancient Art Archive collaborates with Indigenous scholars, artists, and community members to contextualize and bring these sacred images and places to life through beautiful photography and sophisticated technology. The exhibition at the Curb Center will present photographs of rock art dating back 35,000 years from sites across North America and Europe.

Reverberations places Alvarez’s photographs in conversation with the artwork of Dustin Mater. A citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, Mater draws inspiration from his family and heritage to create fine art spanning painting, printmaking, shell carving, metallurgy, and various other artistic media. Mater serves on the leadership team of the Ancient Art Archive’s Mural of America project, providing guidance and artistic direction for educational programs and resources. He also works as the Graphic Arts Coordinator for the Arts and Humanities Division of the Chickasaw nation, and his work is represented in the permanent collections of the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center, the National Park Service, and the Smithsonian Museum.