Rosy Simas: A:gajë:gwah dësa’nigöëwë:nye:' (i hope it will stir your mind)

On February 12, 2026, the Walker Art Center opened A:gajë:gwah dësa’nigöëwë:nye:' (i hope it will stir your mind), the first of two major works by transdisciplinary artist Rosy Simas (Seneca Nation of Indians, Heron clan) commissioned by the Walker Art Center as part of her ongoing two-year residency. Simas’s practice embraces choreography, the moving image, sound, and object-making to delve into her ancestors’ histories through the lens of contemporary experience.  

For A:gajë:gwah dësa’nigöëwë:nye:' (i hope it will stir your mind), Simas created an immersive installation that centers Onöndowa’ga:’ (Seneca Nation) views about family, community, and living in a state of peace and invites visitors into a space of personal reflection. A:gajë:gwah dësa’nigöëwë:nye:' (i hope it will stir your mind) emerges from the artist’s research into her genealogy. This multi-pronged effort has included tracking her family’s geographic connections to the land now known as western New York, learning the Seneca language, and engaging with her ancestors’ roles as peacemakers. The latter aspect of her lineage feels especially resonant in the divisiveness of the current moment, and the installation embraces the Onöndowa’ga:’ way of weaving a “mind of peace” into every aspect of life—from material culture to community gathering. Simas explains this approach to daily life: “As the body moves in different directions, the mind stays attentive to generating peace through good thoughts and intentions. In this way, every stitch, dance, song, and action is imbued with a ‘good mind’ and a peacemaking state of being.” 

The exhibition will be on view through July 5, 2026. It is co-organized by the Moving Image and Performing Arts departments at the Walker. Other components include a major new dance commission premiering in the McGuire Theater May 2026 and a series of community engagement events throughout the run of the exhibition. 

“We are thrilled to have Rosy as an artist in residence at the Walker and to work with her on a project that engages with the full depth of her expansive practice,” said Pablo de Ocampo, Director and Curator of Moving Image. “It is an exciting opportunity to bring together Rosy’s in-gallery presentation with her performance work and to capture the fluidity and dynamism of her artistry. The project also reflects the Walker’s long-standing commitment to multidisciplinary practices, and it has been a pleasure to collaborate with Rosy and my colleague Philip Bither, Senior Curator of Performing Arts, to bring this project to our communities.”   

Curatorial team: Pablo de Ocampo, Director and Curator of Moving Image; Philip Bither, McGuire Director and Senior Curator of Performing Arts

Rosy Simas: A:gajë:gwah dësa'nigöëwë:nye:' (i hope it will stir your mind) is made possible with support from Cinda Collins and the Serendipitous Leverage Fund. Walker commissioning support provided by Lois and John Rogers. 

This activity is made possible by the Bridge Fund for Dance program through the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department. 

The work is a National Performance Network (NPN) Creation & Development Fund Project co-commissioned by Walker Art Center, Jacob's Pillow, and NPN.