Leonard Harmon

An Urban Native Collective Exhibition

Urban Native Collective is a Cincinnati-based organization that serves the broad interests and needs of the Indigenous community within the Tri-State area. Urban Native Collective presents its eighth Indigenous People’s Day Convergence. This four-day celebration, which includes this exhibition, focuses on current issues affecting the Indigenous community, their past, their resilience and their bright future.

The Indigenous Peoples’ Day Convergence exhibition is presented in partnership with the Contemporary Arts Center in The Collective Gallery sponsored by P&G, located in the lower lobby. It brings together contemporary artists to highlight that Indigenous expression is not a recover of what was lost, but an explosive celebration of what has always survived. Moving beyond colonial narratives, the exhibition honors Indigenous life as a living, Sovereign, and evolving force. Grounded in an “Indigenized” punk aesthetic, this multidisciplinary showcase demonstrates that Indigenous presence, creative defiance, and joy are the ultimate forces shaping our shared future.

Artists presented in this exhibition include Jaque Fragua "Mobil Savage" (Pueblo), Robert Franklin (Diné), Steph Littlebird (Grand Ronde), Kobi Morgan (Diné), Cole Reuben (Seneca), Sara Siestreem (Hanis Coos), Mariana Varela (Mexican), Hiro Cash (Diné), Jeremy Dennis (Shinnicok), Carlos Ramirez (Mexican), Isaiah Stewart (Oglala Lakota / Mohawk) and Solstar (Mayan). Curated by Leonard D. Harmon (Nanticoke).

The opening reception for this exhibition will be on Friday, October 9th, from 5 to 9 p.m. It will feature performances from the Copper Face United Powwow Troupe and DJ Creepingbear. Tortilleria Garcia will have a selection of food items for purchase. The reception and performance are free and open to the public.

Artists: Carlos Ramirez, Cole Reuben, Hiro Cash, Isaiah Stewart, Jaque Fragua, Jeremy Dennis, Kobi Morgan, Mariana Varela, Robert Franklin, Sara Siestreem, Solstar, Steph Littlebird

Source: contemporaryartscenter.org (opens in a new tab)

Challenging misconceptions of Indigenous culture

Indigenous culture is too often trapped in history books or reduced to outdated stereotypes. People of the Good River challenges these misconceptions by capturing the vibrant, everyday realities of Indigenous people living in Cincinnati today. Grounded in the legacy of the Ohi-yo—the Seneca word for "Good River"—this exhibition pairs candid portrait photography with hand-pulled screen printing on paper. Each physical layer of ink builds a portrait of modern life, work, and community, moving past romanticized tropes to celebrate an enduring present and archive for the people who are actively shaping Cincinnati's contemporary narrative.

“They say the truth is in the eye of the beholder… but who’s looking?” ~ Leonard Harmon

Leonard Harmon has always been drawn to a life of expression. Leonard credits a large part of his passion too. As he puts it, his “direct bloodline to art”. His father was a furniture maker, and his uncle, and namesake Leonard Allen Harmon, was a well-known portrait artist featured in the Heard Museum of Arizona. Art, in one form or the other, was always present in his life. As a young man, he was inspired by his grandparents' love of cooking to attend Johnson & Wales University, one of the finest culinary schools in the country, where he not only learned the fine art of creating culinary masterpieces but also began to explore his love of music. Eventually touring the country as a DJ, it wasn’t until 2010 that Leonard began to explore a new form of expression, traditional and contemporary mixed media.

In an interview with The Stranger, Leonard explains, “I like using older images to tell a new story of putting perspective on our history. As a new artist, I like exploring all kinds of methods and mediums. Each new style I incorporate helps me express myself in a new way. I’m never scared to try new things and see where my mind takes me.”

A citizen of the Lenape Tribe of New Jersey and the Nanticoke Tribe of Delaware, Leonard currently lives on the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indian Reservation. He reflects often on traveling to Connecticut and Oklahoma to attend Powwows and be immersed in his culture. He continues to be actively involved in tribal traditions on the Siletz Reservation. This immersion is seen in his work as he takes inspiration from his ancestors to put modern spins on traditional arts.

Curated by CAC's Education Department

Source: contemporaryartscenter.org (opens in a new tab)

Join us as we celebrate the opening, on October 9th, of Lenny Harmon's exhibition, People of the Good River. This show showcases Indigenous culture outside of the outdated stereotypes of history books. People of the Good River challenges these misconceptions by capturing vibrant, everyday realities of Indigenous people living in Cincinnati Today. Grounded by the legacy of the Ohi-yo- the Seneca word for Good River-- this exhibition pairs candid portrait photography with hand-pulled screen printing on paper. Each physical layer of ink builds a portrait of modern life, work, and community, moving past romanticized tropes to celebrate an enduring present and archive the people who are actively shaping Cincinnati's contemporary narrative.

The reception will be held in our Creativity Center, located on 6.

Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E 6th St, Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

Source: contemporaryartscenter.org (opens in a new tab)