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Please join the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Artist-in-Residence (A-i-R) artists Sunshine Guzman (Shoshone-Bannock) and Arla Lucia (Seneca-Cayuga Nation) on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, from 9:00 am–12:00 pm for an open studio event to learn more about their practice and current projects.Located in the A-i-R Studio, this event is free and open to the public.
Sunshine Guzman is a proud member of the Shoshone-Bannock tribe. She earned her degree in American Indian Studies and has spent the last 16 years working with Native youth through Portland Public School Title VI Indian Education Program. A mother of two, Sunshine is deeply committed to helping Native students build a strong cultural foundation and lasting sense of belonging. Her artistry is rooted in family teaching passed down through generations. Taught by her mother and family, who artistically support one another. From an early age, she was taught to value her Tribal designs and the importance of knowing where she comes from. Out of necessity and love for her culture, Sunshine learned to work across many mediums to create regalia for her children. She also learned to make regalia specific to her children’s father’s tribe for ceremonies. Her grandmother taught her to make her first patterns, which were made from newspaper. She often crafted clothing for her pet. When she got a little older, she would sneak in and use her mother’s sewing machine before her mother got home from work, making clothing for herself. She began beading earrings with porcupine quills from her grandma’s mixed beads. Sunshine continues to honor traditional techniques while adapting some areas to modern forms. Her work is a reflection of her family’s resilience, identity, and pride. Her grandma’s famous words are, “If you can bead, you will never be broke.” Sūn Dě Hī (Blessing)
Arla Lucia is an enrolled citizen of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation of Oklahoma. Raised in southern Colorado, like her mother before her, without a direct connection to her Tribal stories, material culture, or community. Arla decided to pursue Haudensosaunee raised bead embroidery as a vehicle to make her way home to her traditions. It has begun the lifelong process of healing for her family and reconnecting to traditions for future generations. In her culture, beading is medicine through the act of peace-making, with the very first wampum beads having been strung together as an offering that brought the Haudenosaunee people together. The material culture manifests as an alchemical effort to transform unassuming, tiny glass beads into magical creations filled with spirit. In the absence of anyone to teach her, she became a self-taught artist, sitting at the feet of masters by meticulously dissecting historical grandmother pieces, photo archives, and even contemporary artists’ work to reverse-engineer the art and techniques. Following the path that each line of beads laid out and where it took her, they came to life before her eyes. Recognized as an emerging talent, Arla was recently featured in publications such as Cowboys & Indians Magazine and Native Max Magazine in 2025. She has been accepted as an artist into prestigious fine art markets such as the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market, the Autry Museum of the American West: American Indian Arts Festival, the Southwest Association of American Indian Arts Santa Fe Indian Market, and the Cherokee Art Market in just her first three years as an artist. A multiple award winner in her medium, she is also a featured artist at the Four Winds Gallery in Pittsburgh and will be an internationally exhibiting artist in 2026. Her artistry is not only a creative expression but also a means of storytelling, preserving the rich history and identity of her people. She is dedicated to sharing her craft with a broader audience, ensuring that Indigenous art remains vibrant and appreciated in today’s world.
For more information about the IAIA A-i-R program, please contact Maia Filippi, A-i-R Program Manager, at [email protected] or call (505) 424-2369.
If you are an individual with a disability and in need of any auxiliary aid or service to attend events, please contact IAIA’s ADA Office at least seven calendar days before the event or as soon as possible at [email protected] or (505) 424-5707.
https://iaia.edu/event/iaia-a-i-r-guzman-lucia-open-studio-mornings/
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83 Avan Nu Po Road, Santa Fe, NM, United States, New Mexico 87508
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