DC | Artful Evenings: Water's Edge with Artist Sky Hopinka

Enjoy an artful evening that celebrates Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe, and learn about connections between the acclaimed Hoocąk artist’s work and that of filmmaker and visual artist Sky Hopinka (Ho-Chunk Nation/Pechanga Band of Indians). Sky Hopinka’s photo and video art—including This is a mnemonic for Truman Lowe in the museum’s collection—shares Truman Lowe’s interest in Indigenous homelands, cultural knowledge, and traditional practices. Hopinka contributed to the exhibition catalog for Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe , writing on Lowe’s lasting impact on his work. Hopinka joins the museum for this special after hours event featuring a screening of three of his short video works followed by a discussion with Rebecca Head Trautmann, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art and exhibition curator, along with art-making activities, and time to enjoy Lowe’s work currently on view. Sky Hopinka has been widely recognized for his experimental short films and photo-based works. A MacArthur Fellow, Guggenheim Fellow, and Forge Project Fellow, his work has been shown in major film festivals, museums, and international exhibitions and is in numerous prominent museum collections. Hopinka is currently an assistant professor in the department of Art, Film, and Visual Studies at Harvard University. Registration recommended to reserve your spot! SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 6–8:45 PM | Espresso Bar | Level 1 Small bites and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase. * Please do not take food or beverages beyond Level 1. 6–8:45 PM | Creative Reflections | Level 1, Outside Rasmuson Theater Take a moment to slow down and explore your creativity through a hands-on art activity inspired by Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe . Reflect on themes of nature, movement, and place as you create your own work of art. 6–8:45 PM | Materials in the Making | Level 3, Water’s Edge , North Gallery Step into the artist's world through an interactive materials experience. Discover and handle the raw materials used in the artwork while engaging in conversations about texture, meaning, process, and inspiration. 6:15–6:30 PM | Curator's Welcome | Level 3, Water’s Edge , North Gallery Join the exhibition’s curator, Rebecca Trautmann, for a brief introduction and welcome to Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe . 7–8 PM | Screening and Conversation: Sky Hopinka and Rebecca Trautmann | Level 1, Rasmuson Theater Following a screening of three of Hopinka’s short video works (Runtime: 30 min.), the multidisciplinary artist will sit down with Rebecca Head Trautmann, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art at the museum, for a conversation about his art practice, inspiration, and the legacy of Truman Lowe. " Fainting Spells" (USA, 2018, 10 min.) Centering on Xąwįska, or the Indian Pipe Plant, this experimental film constructs an imaginary myth around its use by the Ho-Chunk to revive those who have fainted. "The Island Weights" (USA, 2021, 10 min.) Sky Hopinka’s two-channel film is a cycle centered on the narrative of the Island Weights—one of the Ho-Chunk creation stories about four individual water spirits sent to the cardinal points of the Earth to keep it from chaotically spinning out. "He Who Wears Faces on His Ears" (USA, 2025, 10 min.) This piece explores how Indigenous mythologies silently endure within modern landscapes. Grounded in the Ho-Chunk story of Red Horn (He Who Wears Faces on His Ears), it examines the boundaries between the human and spirit worlds while mapping the recurring cycles of myth, memory, and language. Image credits: "Fainting Spells" (film still), courtesy of Sky Hopinka Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John Lavine and Meryl Lipton Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock.