PENDLETON, OR - Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts (CSIA) proudly announces the appointment of Emma Barnes as its inaugural Development Director, made possible through generous grant funding from the Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation and the Oregon Community Foundation. Emma's hiring marks a significant step forward for CSIA as it expands its team to further support its work as a nationally-renowned printmaking studio and Native arts center.
With over a decade of professional experience in nonprofits and the arts, Emma brings extensive knowledge and passion to her new role. Originally from Granger, Washington, Emma has called the Pacific Northwest home for many years. She holds a degree in history from Washington State University and started her career in arts and cultural administration as both a curator and exhibition designer.
As President of the Arts Foundation of the Mid-Columbia and a member of the Colima-Pasco Friendship and Collaboration Association (COPA)’s Arts & Culture Committee, Emma brings strong connections to the regional arts and business communities as well as expertise in nonprofit leadership, donor relations, and funding development. Emma is known for her commitment to enhancing equitable access to the arts and promoting under-represented media, artists, and perspectives. Beyond her professional achievements, Emma is an artist herself, engaging in illustration, painting, and graphic design during her spare time.
“I am eager to begin my journey as CSIA’s first Development Director,” Emma states. “Crow’s Shadow has an incredible mission, history, and reputation, and I am excited to dedicate my work to the organization's future. I look forward to immersing myself in and connecting with the communities served by CSIA, helping to build a strong, sustainable future for the institute and future generations.”
CSIA expresses gratitude to the Lamfrom Foundation and the Oregon Community Foundation for their support in making this pivotal appointment possible. With Emma Barnes in the role of Development Director, Crow's Shadow Institute of the Arts is excited to embark on a new era of growth, community engagement, and artistic impact.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Phinney Brown
Executive Director
phinney@crowsshadow.org
541-276-3954
About Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts
Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts (CSIA) is located on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in the foothills of Oregon’s Blue Mountains. Crow’s Shadow is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization formed in 1992 by prominent artists James Lavadour (Walla Walla) and Phillip Cash Cash, PhD (Cayuse and Nez Perce). CSIA’s mission is to provide a creative conduit for educational, social, and economic opportunities for Native Americans through artistic development.
Over the last 30 years, Crow’s Shadow has evolved into a world-class studio focused on contemporary fine art printmaking. From 2001–2017, Frank Janzen was CSIA’s Master Printer. Under his tenure, Crow’s Shadow increased its focus on artist residencies and the publication and marketing of prints. In 2017, Judith Baumann joined Crow’s Shadow as the new Master Printer.
Printmaking is not the sole focus of Crow’s Shadow, however, since each year it hosts several one- to two-day workshops where participants can learn traditional art forms, such as basket making, beading, and the crafting of horse regalia from skilled artisans, all under the skilled leadership of Traditional Arts Manager Jacy Sohappy. CSIA also hosts printmaking and other workshops for regional youth, as well as regular community events and gallery talks.
Prints made at Crow’s Shadow have been featured in prominent national exhibitions, including the recent Whitney Biennial, and have been collected by the Whitney, Smithsonian, MoMA, Library of Congress, Boston MFA, and more. A 2019 feature in the New York Times hailed Crow’s Shadow as a “hub for contemporary Native American artists nationwide...[attracting] some of the biggest Indigenous names in contemporary art.”
