Sharing Native Creativity: Meet Joe Williams

The following story is written by Joe Williams, host of the 5 Plain Questions podcast, to whom we are deeply grateful for co-producing episodes of the Art of the Rural podcast and contributing to our collective work as a Media & Editorial Collaborator. Learn more about Joe and his work below!

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When I became director of Indigenous programs at an accredited art museum in the Midwest in 2019 and started curating exhibitions to promote Native American and Indigenous artists, I was excited by the potential that lay ahead of me. I thought of all the artists I wanted to support in exhibiting not only their vision but also their life stories.

Then I did the math: given the museum’s exhibition cycle, I would be limited to just a few dozen artists during the course of my career. I wouldn’t be able to share the stories I felt were necessary, and I would miss reaching a key demographic—people from my Native and Indigenous communities who don’t walk through museum doors. Then in 2020, the pandemic forced us to close our doors and opened the opportunity for thinking differently about how to share more of the artist’s story to give greater context to the art we were exhibiting.

I created the 5 Plain Questions podcast to provide that space. Each hour (more or less) episode explores in an interview format the lives and creative processes of Native American and Indigenous creatives, visual artists, authors, actors, and community leaders.

The show continues to evolve.

I’m proud of the partnerships I’ve made through this podcast, now in its sixth season and nearing 200 guests. This season, I’ve partnered with Art of the Rural, whose mission states it “is a collaborative arts and culture non-profit organization that works to resource artists and culture bearers across the country to build the field, change the narrative, and bridge divides.” We will explore rural-based artists who are doing innovative and intentional work that our Native communities and supporters of the art world should know about. Rural artists and organizations are truly the complement of urban spaces and artists, and through this partnership, we will show you why.

As you listen, I hope you come to realize that our guests share your same hopes, dreams, fears, and concerns. We share a value system rooted in family and community, and a desire to learn from those around us.

So take a break from scrolling, put on your headphones, and join a conversation with some of the most creative and influential people in our country. These calm, reflective dialogues will remind you of how great the Native American and Indigenous communities really are. Take back the narrative in your life and seek out those who reflect your values within your community. It can start with asking 5 plain questions.