In She Never Dances Alone, Jeffrey Gibson pays homage to the matriarchal roots of many Indigenous communities and the healing power of art. The video features acclaimed jingle dancer Sarah Ortegon performing to the song “Sisters” by The Halluci Nation, whose hypnotic beats echo the video’s pulsating, kaleidoscopic visuals. Jingle dances are performed by women across the country during powwow ceremonies to call upon ancestors for strength and protection. Images of Ortegon dancing multiply over the course of the video, suggesting past, present, and future dancers. As Gibson shares: “It is not just about her as an individual but also the many women she represents. Having this video is an ancestral call for strength and healing for all Indigenous people.”

This installation is organized by the Cantor Arts Center and curated by Veronica Roberts, John and Jill Freidenrich Director, with Maggie Dethloff, Assistant Curator of Photography and New Media. We gratefully acknowledge support for Jeffrey Gibson: She Never Dances Alone from the Hockwald Fund and the Robert Mondavi Family Fund at the Cantor Arts Center.

IMAGE: Jeffrey Gibson (Choctaw/Cherokee, born in 1972), She Never Dances Alone, 2019. Variable channel video installation (color, sound); 2:50 min. Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University, The Anonymous B Acquisitions Fund © Jeffrey Gibson

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