Bios.

  • Brenda Peñaloza Cepeda

    Brenda Peñaloza Cepeda, a passionate cultural advocate from Western Massachusetts, is the granddaughter of Rafael Cepeda, the revered patriarch of Bomba music both in Puerto Rico and beyond. In addition to her grandfather's legacy, Brendaliz is also proud of her Indigenous roots, which trace back to the Taino people, the original inhabitants of Puerto Rico.

    This deep connection to both African and Indigenous heritage shapes her commitment to preserving the diverse cultural history of Puerto Rico. With a master's degree in Special Education, Brendaliz dedicated thirteen years to teaching before pursuing her love for Puerto Rican culture and music.

  • Hartman Deetz.

    Hartman Deetz is an enrolled member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, who has spent over 30 years educating and advocating around issues of Native American rights and environmental justice. Deetz is currently working with Charles River Watershed Association and Cultural Survival and the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature.

    Deetz’s art work ranges from contemporary arts such as painting and lino cuts that often incorporate social themes and issues, and through to museum quality traditional wampanoag arts such as wampum and wood carving. Through his work in arts education and advocacy Deetz has traveled through 48 of the lower 48 states to Peru, Mexico, Bermuda, France, Switzerland, and the UK.

  • Taína Vargas-Sosa

    Taína Vargas-Sosa is a mother, artist, educator, holistic wellness entrepreneur, and enrolled tribal member of Higuayagua Taino from Ayiti-Kiskeya (Dominican Republic). She is the founder of Sankofa Anacaona Botanicals, a woman-owned small business that specializes in plant-based holistic wellness.

    Taína has nearly two decades of experience providing quality art and land based education to diverse learners. She aims to educate and empower our communities to reclaim and expand cultural traditions of plant medicine. Taína currently splits her time between Boston and Western Mass  (Indigenous land of Massachusetts, Nipmuc, and Pawtucket).

Indigenous Art Circle (IAC) is launching this spring with hands-on art classes and workshops for adults, kids, and families across multiple locations in greater Boston.  Indigenous tribal members, artisans and storytellers working in paint, wood, fiber, dance, music, and movement are coming together to teach the classes. Grow your cultural competency, enlarge your heart, while learning new crafting skills byway of indigenous tradition and expressive forms. Class sizes will be small, and space is limited.

Indigenous Art Circle is partnering with like-minded cultural organizations to host one-time workshops and four session classes beginning in May running through early June 2025.  Indigenous teaching artists include Taino - Alvin Colon, Mashpee Wampanoag - Annawon Weeden, Taino - Brendaliz y Saul Cepeda, Mashpee Wampanoag - Hartman Deetz, and Taino - Taina Vargas.  Sessions of 1-2 hours are scheduled during the morning, afternoons, and evenings to provide flexibility for youth and families.

Reserve your spot today!  Indigenous Art Circle is a program of Indigenous People’s Day Newton Committee which organizes the annual gathering in Albemarle Park in Newton MA. The 3rd Annual Ceremonial Celebration in 2024 was an incredibly special day where over 1,000 people gathered to support over sixty local Indigenous businesses & non-profits, enjoy live music, art demonstrations, cultural presentations, eat delicious food, and be in community to celebrate Indigenous peoples!  

To join us, visit indigenousartistcircle.org.