Good Medicine: A Collection of Healing Forces



”Indian country is shaped with many diverse nations of people who live throughout what is now the United States. The beauty and power of language, beliefs, culture, and identity widely vary from region and people.  What is similar among us, however, are traditions of medicine. Like a thread of sinew stitching us together, our medicine traditions are much alike. There are two functions of medicine: wellness and healing. Practicing traditional forms of medicine both ensure health, but also heal us from illness. Balance is the first form of medicine. Laughter is the essential form of medicine. Prayer is the spiritual form of medicine. Love is the emotional form of medicine. Plants are natures form medicine. Knowledge is the shared form of medicine. Art is the innate human form of medicine. Collectively together, these forms become forces in wellness and healing. Forces that preserve and protect lives when people fall ill and the forces that protect the caregivers when sharing good medicine.   

Good Medicine: A Collection of Healing Forces shares American Indian art that speaks to the indigenous forms of health and healing. Drawing on the forms of medicine, the Native artists featured in this exhibit share their beliefs and representation of health, healing, and good medicine. The allegory in each piece represents living traditions among indigenous people that transcends generations. The purpose of curating this exhibit is the collective medicine conveyed through the art has a positive effect on you, in health and even sickness. The medicine that is offered in this exhibit will heal you in ways you need and provide comfort and wellness on your journey. Every participant in this exhibit is honored to share good medicine with you.”

-Nancy Strickland Fields, Curator of the Good Medicine exhibition and Director of the Museum of the Southeast American Indian

The opening reception is scheduled for February 25th from 6-9 pm and is open to the public.