September 10, 2022 - March 5, 2023
In this inaugural partnership between the Catalina Museum for Art & History and the Tongva Community, Crossing Waters highlights the works of three contemporary Tongva artists, Weshoyot Alvitre, Mercedes Dorame, and River Garza.
Pimugna, often shortened to Pimu, is the Tongva name for the island now commonly known as Catalina Island. It was once an integral part of greater Tonvaangar—the Tongva world. Through their individual practices, these artists explore their relationship with the island, crossing waters to connect past, present, and future.
Above: (Left) Mercedes Dorame, We Dance Across the Water - Yakeenaxre Naamkomokre Paar (detail), 2022, site specific installation in foreground and Weshoyote Alvitre, Hi mo-yok' mok: po-koo (No, He is not dead: #1) (detail), 2022 in the background; (Right) River Garza, "Coyote Paddles"