Through its museum without walls programming, Smithsonian.com is observing November as Native American Heritage Month with a significant new onsite exhibition, supported by online explorations of native art, languages and culture. Vantage Point: The Contemporary Native Art Collection runs through August 7, 2011, at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Native art markets also are planned for December 4-5 in our nation’s capital and New York.

Works by 25 established and emerging artists from the United States, Canada and Colombia will be showcased. This forum for native expression includes paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, videos and mixed-media installations.

“Many people are still surprised to find Native American artists working in contemporary media and addressing very contemporary issues,” says Kevin Gover (Pawnee), director of the museum. “These artists challenge notions of Native American art and confront people’s perspectives on history, culture and current events.”

Find more information at SmithsonianMag.com; AmericanIndian.si.edu; WisdomOfTheElders.org and NativeAmericanHeritageMonth.gov.