The Precious Things We Share: The Past, Present, and Future of Indigenous Picture Book Art

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: Wáanegugish means “the precious things we share” in the Nipmuc language, an apt term to describe this first-of-its-kind exhibition that celebrates and centers Indigenous picture book artists from what is now the United States and Canada. The exhibition covers more than 200 years of storytelling history through more than 80 works in four sections. The exhibition culminates with the rise in children’s book art and stories created by Indigenous artists over the past two decades. These artists’ collective efforts come together to create positive dynamic representations of historical and contemporary Native lives and cultures.

The Carle and Dr. Lee Francis IV are working with an Advisory Group of Native community leaders, artists, publishers, philanthropists, educators, and writers to develop this exhibition. The exhibition is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (Federal grant award ID: MA-256047-OMS-24) and Mass Humanities through the Massachusetts Cultural Council.