Second Saturday: Celebrating Indigenous Heritage

Celebrate Indigenous Heritage Month with an afternoon of art, storytelling, and hands-on creativity. This Second Saturday honors Indigenous voices and artists from the museum’s collection through engaging in-gallery experiences and Drop-In Artmaking led by Jay Benham and Bobby C. Martin.

Join Jazlyn Sanderson-Mountz, Director of the Museum of Native American History in Bentonville, at 11 a.m. for a special guided tour of the Crystal Bridges collection. Drawing on her deep knowledge of Native American history, Sanderson-Mountz will explore the stories, cultures, and histories reflected in works throughout our galleries, offering new perspectives on the people and traditions that have shaped this land.

Bobby C. Martin will lead a Gallery Talk in front his piece “The Guardians” from 12 - 12:45 p.m. discussing his artistic process, what has influenced his work, and his experiences as an artist. After his discussion, Martin will head back to HUB Studio F to lead a screen-printing experience featuring his original Keith Haring inspired print!

Jay Benham will do a special gallery walk from 1 - 1:45 p.m. highlighting his favorite artwork currently on display in our galleries and how the artists before him and working alongside him have inspired his work over the years. Following this, he will lead guests through paper weaving techniques in HUB Studios D and E as part of our Drop-In Artmaking Experience!

Free, no tickets required. Feel free to drop in throughout the day!

Check out our other Second Saturday events.

About our Partners

Bobby C. Martin is a celebrated printmaker and painter whose evocative mixed media works pay homage to his Native American heritage. Fusing ancestral traditions with contemporary artistry, Martin creates visually arresting pieces that capture the spirit, resilience, and stories of his culture. His art is exhibited and collected worldwide, gracing the permanent collections of distinguished institutions such as the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College, Philbrook Museum of Art, Gilcrease Museum, Sam Noble Museum, British Library, Museum of the Great Plains, Georgia Museum of Art, and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Additional selections of Bobby’s remarkable work can be explored at WYLD Gallery in Austin, Texas; Exhibit C Gallery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Art Ventures NWA in Fayetteville, Arkansas; and online at bobbycmartin.com.

Jay Benham is a mixed-heritage artist of Kiowa and Anglo descent. His Kiowa name, Au Pia Goodle (Red Otter), honors his great-grandfather and was passed down with the blessing of his family. His work has been exhibited across the Southwest, including the Santa Fe Indian Market (SWAIA), Red Earth Festival, and the Cherokee Art Market. His art is held in permanent collections at institutions such as the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, the Sequoyah National Research Center, and the Kiowa Tribal Museum. Through his work, Benham seeks to challenge stereotypes and elevate authentic Native narratives, using art to foster dialogue and civic understanding.