"Ways of Seeing, Ways of Being" is a multidisciplinary exhibition featuring historical ephemera, wearable arts, and contemporary photography. This Indigenous-led project explores how memory, storytelling, and perception shape our understanding of ourselves, others, and the world around us. 

Featuring the work of four artists, the exhibition offers a layered narrative of Indigenous presence in the Philadelphia region, rooted in cultural continuity, family, and intergenerational knowledge. Together, these works invite visitors to reflect on how the stories we inherit and the ways we see the world shape who we are, influencing how we live and what we leave for those who follow.

Curators/Lead Artists: 

• Tchin (Narragansett) – Curator, Historical Postcard Collection 

• Joy Tonepahhote (Kiowa) – Beadwork and Regalia Artist 

• Tailinh Agoyo (Narragansett) – Photographer 

• Luca Agoyo (Ohkay Owingeh/Narragansett) – Photographer & Playlist Curator 

Historical Postcard Collection 

Tchin presents a curated selection of original 19th and 20th century postcards depicting Native peoples. Through his lens as a culture bearer and historian, he contextualizes each image, unpacking the stereotypes, misrepresentations, and colonial narratives embedded in these materials. At the same time, the postcards sometimes hold deep meaning for Indigenous viewers, who may recognize community scenes from their own tribal histories. Seeing relatives or familiar aesthetics or homelands represented, even through the distorted lens of early postcard culture, creates a powerful connection across generations. 

Tchin’s curation reveals the tension between how Indigenous peoples were portrayed and the realities of Indigenous life, inviting viewers to consider how imagery shapes cultural memory. 

Beadwork and Regalia Exhibition 

Joy Tonepahhote exhibits hand-beaded pieces, regalia, and culturally significant works that reflect her Kiowa ancestry. Her artistry is grounded in intergenerational knowledge, drawing from family teachings and community traditions that shape her approach to design, technique, and cultural stewardship. Each piece reflects the precision and intention of traditional beadwork while often expressing a contemporary aesthetic, demonstrating how these practices continue to evolve and thrive today.

Multigenerational Photography 

In this photographic dialogue between mother and son, Tailinh and Luca Agoyo each offer a distinct yet interconnected perspective on memory, family, and the influences that shape individuals within their environments. 

Through photography and writing, Tailinh's work investigates memory, family, and the narratives that are woven across generations. Luca's photography captures a younger generation's perspective, finding moments of wonder throughout Philadelphia's landscape.

Collectively, their work explores how the infinite beauty of the world around us, the practice of noticing, sitting with moments of awe, and cultivating connections with our human and non-human relatives influence our bodies, minds, and spirits.

Exhibition ends December 18, 2026.