National Museum of Wildlife Art to Host Contemporary Northern Arapaho Artist Robert Martinez for Hii3oobeiseihii (True Voices)

The National Museum of Wildlife Art (NMWA) is partnering with the Wind River Foundation for the second year in a row for the March First Sunday programming. On March 5, 2023, Hii3oobeiseihii (True Voices), will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with special guests, contemporary Northern Arapaho artist Robert Martinez and Northern Arapaho singer-songwriter Christian Wallowing Bull. “We are honored to welcome back Martinez and Wallowing Bull, both of whom helped create a tremendously successful event in March of 2022,” says Programs and Events Director Michelle Dickson. “We’re looking forward to providing a truly engaging experience for our local families to enjoy.”

Wallowing Bull, who won the 2021 Wyoming Singer-Songwriter’s competition, will kick off the event from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a live musical performance. Earlier this month, he released a brand new album titled Warpaint. As an enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe, Wallowing Bull’s heart as a storyteller is to represent his own indigenous roots, and to bridge perspective and healing to the lives of those indigenous, as well as non-indigenous.

From 12:30 to 2 p.m. Martinez will conduct a painting demonstration, followed by a presentation and Q&A. Born on the Wind River Reservation, Martinez was the youngest Native American to graduate from the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design at the time. A recipient of Wyomings’ highest award for the arts, the Wyoming Governor’s Arts Award, Martinez’s work is included in the permanent collections of the Wyoming State Museum, The Brinton Museum, The Plains Indian Museum at the Cody Center of the West, and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

“The Museum is committed to amplifying Native voices. In addition to increasing representation in our permanent collection, we are also striving to hold events like this one where our venue serves as a platform for Indigenous artists to share their work with the community,” says Museum Director Steve Seamons. 

With only two more months of the Museum’s year-long 35th anniversary celebration, admission will be free for all visitors on March 5 (3/5) in honor of 35 years. Children will have the opportunity to create spring-themed ornaments to hang at the Sage Living Center, and Kingdom of the White Wolf will play throughout the day in the Cook Auditorium. The film features National Geographic explorer Ronan Donovan and his quest to document wolves in the Arctic. His work is on view now in Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan.