Casandra Lopez
SAR Indigenous Writer-in-Residence Fellowship
Casandra Lopez is of Cahuilla, Luiseno, Tongva, and Chicana descent. Through the SAR indigenous writer-in-residence program, Lopez plans to prepare her novel-in-stories for publication. When We Were Huntedcenters on a California Indian/Mexican family grieving the loss of Michael, the complicated man they knew as their father.
Melissa Henry
Eric and Barbara Dobkin Fellowship
Melissa Henry (Diné) is a filmmaker whose work is often seen as simultaneously straddling the categories of youth and experimental. Henry sees her films reaching out to people of all ages and cultural backgrounds, bringing Navajo culture to the world. While at SAR, Henry would like to work on the pre-production for her film, Mozhi Lizhini (Black Cat) in Space.
Glenda McKay
Ronald and Susan Dubin Fellowship
Glenda McKay is Ingalik-Athabascan. She was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and was taught the skills she uses in doll making at an early age by her mother, grandmother, and aunts. Knowing how to embroider and bead; trap, snare, and tan hides; and gather fruit, roots, bark, and plants has served her well. McKay has a much-earned reputation for personally gathering all the materials for her creations and she is known for her intricate attention to detail. While at SAR, she proposes to use traditional materials to create a doll scene called “Basket Maker.”
Will Wilson
Rollin and Mary Ella King Fellowship
Will Wilson (Navajo) is widely recognized for his unusual approach to the world of photography. Currently an instructor at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), he received the prestigious Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Fine Art in 2007 and the Native Arts and Culture Foundation Artistic Innovation Award in 2010.