INDIANAPOLIS, IN.- A major new traveling exhibition that recently opened in Indianapolis explores how diverse religious influences shaped the cultures of the American West, and how the West itself impacted people’s beliefs. A traveling exhibition organized by the New-York Historical Society, Acts of Faith: Religion and the American West continues at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art daily through Aug. 4.

Featuring thought-provoking artworks, cultural belongings, exhibit panels and displays evoking historic sites and scenes, Acts of Faith is a multi-faceted exploration of many religious beliefs and spiritual practices of the peoples who lived in or moved to the American West, spanning more than 200 years and connecting to the present day. By telling a wide range of stories of individuals and groups, the exhibition weaves together many narratives: examples of Native American religious movements, Protestant missionaries and Catholic communities, African American migrants who were formerly enslaved and started new lives in the West, Jewish traders in the West, Latter-day Saints bound for Utah, Chinese immigrants honoring their ancestral religious practices, and a Muslim community today. Their stories and those of numerous other groups are interwoven through the exhibition.

Acts of Faith was acclaimed when it previously was on exhibit in fall 2023 and early 2024 at the New-York Historical Society. During the Indianapolis stop of Acts of Faith, the historical society’s works are supplemented by art from the Eiteljorg’s own collections reflecting how diverse religious beliefs in the West have been maintained and yet adapted through the 19th and 20th centuries until today.

“In the Acts of Faith exhibition, visitors can see the beauty, heartbreak, triumph and struggle of a range of religious expressions and experiences throughout the American West,” said Jessica Nelson, Ph.D., guest curator and former Eiteljorg director of religion and cultural initiatives. “For many people, religion or spirituality is an essential element for creating community and establishing a sense of home for themselves. These deeply-held beliefs can foster both inclusion and exclusion. Acts of Faith offers a mosaic of artwork and stories from different perspectives to help us understand how all these experiences are entangled with each other – and together form a larger story about the American West.”