Hopi artist, mother and activist explores Matrilineal Memory in Portland exhibit [Video]

In the quiet expanse of the Hopi Reservation in northeast Arizona, amid the mesas and canyons that stretch across the arid landscape, artist Mikaela Shafer breathes life into her work. Within the atmosphere of her ancestral lands, Shafer delves into her heritage — Hopi, Coyote Clan — and connects with her past, combining elements from nature into creations of her own.

Against this backdrop of culture and connection, Shafer has shaped her exhibition, “Matrilineal Memory,” featured through June 6 at the Center for Native Arts and Cultures in Portland.

In the space, Shafer’s mixed-media pieces line the walls and fill the room. Chiffon-printed images, canvases and installations merge under the familiar style that Shafer has created.

The immersive showcase invites viewers to explore their own history and trauma so they can heal properly. Incorporating her grief, processing and healing over her turbulent upbringing and the death of her 9-day-old daughter 17 years ago, Shafer confronts her memories in a cathartic and artistic display.