A Meskwaki artist and writer is in the process of opening a Native American gallery in Iowa City.

Dawson Davenport, who has roots in Tama and Iowa City, says he wants to magnify voices of indigenous creators, musicians, and writers as they address what it means to be Native American today. Davenport says he’s designing the space to enable a range of artists to share their experiences and build a community.

Davenport wants to emphasize artists from tribes that lived in what is now the state of Iowa, including Woodland tribes. He’s hoping to open the Iowa City gallery later this spring.