Where Do We Go from Here? A Conversation with Josué Rivas and Elisheba Johnson, Moderated by Michelle Woo

Held in conjunction with Hank Willis Thomas: LOVERULES and presented at Seattle Art Fair at Lumen Field Event Center, this Henry program brings together the voices of artists Josué Rivas and Elisheba Johnson, moderated by Michelle Woo of For Freedoms. Together, these dynamic speakers will delve into the pressing issues inherent in the question, “Where do we go from here?” connecting art, civic engagement, and community in the United States today.

Josué Rivas is an Indigenous Futurist and multi-disciplinary storyteller who challenges mainstream narratives about Indigenous peoples. His work connects art, technology, journalism, and decolonization, aiming to co-create with communities and serve as a vehicle for collective healing.

Elisheba Johnson, co-founder and curator of Wa Na Wari, drives cultural place-making through her conceptual art. Influenced by the Fluxus movement, she emphasizes accessibility and art’s role in civic life. Johnson’s work fosters equity and engagement within communities.

Michelle Woo is a co-founder of For Freedoms with Hank Willis Thomas, Eric Gottesman, and Wyatt Gallery, is an artist-led organization that centers art as a catalyst for creative civic engagement, discourse, and direct action.