Harmony Hill
Meet Harmony
Harmony Hill is a Milwaukee based multi-media artist and enrolled member of the Oneida Tribes of Indians of Wisconsin. Through strong cultural and ancestral imagery, she strives to give voice to and empower indigenous people across the continent, particularly women. She creates art that contains symbols and imagery that are deeply meaningful to native people. As a victim of physical and sexual violence she feels a responsibility to be a voice for the empowerment of women. She chooses to direct the focus of her work on the power, medicine and potential of women rather than the negative aspects of victimization. With humility, she strives to create work for the people and to heal the people.
“I measure my success by how it touches the hearts of my people, and consequently heals my own heart.” -Harmony Hill
Ms.Hill is the founder of Red Magic and organizer of the largest Native American festival in the city of Milwaukee, the Red Magic Art Festival with the mission of celebrating and preserving Native American arts and culture while strengthening community ties through education and representation. She strives to be an advocate for indigenous artists and businesses with the goal of building healthy economies in Indian Country.
As a lifelong pow wow singer and dancer, Harmony is a proficient at sewing and making a variety of regalia.
The importance of visibility and representation is of paramount importance to Harmony. By bringing her work in public spaces, where native people live, Harmony inspires people to be proud of their culture.
Harmony Hill's art displayed on a bus shelter is Green Bay, WI.
Harmony designs functional art with symbols and imagery that has deep cultural meaning to native people. She believes that it is good medicine when people make practical use of a piece of art.
Another example of functional art, Harmony designed and crafted this one of a kind bench with textural elements inspired by the Haudenosaunee Dust Fan Wampum belt.
Crisscrossing the country singing, dancing and living in various regions, Harmony enjoys learning about different native tribes, along with their differences, similarities and common themes and values.
Harmony Hill is a proficient woodworker. She enjoys working with wood because the material and it's source make her feel grounded, connected and humble. She sees the inconsistencies and imperfections in the wood as a reflection of the imperfections of humanity. While most woodworkers work to hide or avoid knots or imperfections in wood, as an artist Harmony works to amplify those elements in her pieces.
Being able to work to represent native people in public spaces while educating and engaging with the general public offers Harmony the opportunity to create greater understand and connections between the native community and the dominant society.
