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 February 2008 Back to Table of Contents Back to Archives Main Page Section: Arts & Letters Native Art at the Castellani By Meg Walker
The exhibition’s title comes from customs of the Haudenosaunee, the People of the Longhouse. The group, comprised of Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora tribes, combined to have many stories and traditions that are told specifically in the winter months. The stories are passed on while there is snow on the ground, as it is believed that if they were told in the summer months, the animals and the people may be too distracted from the stories and forget their jobs. To enhance the feelings of authenticity at the exhibit, the gallery itself will be transformed into the interior likes of a traditional Iroquois longhouse. Many Winters Ago features some of the leading Native American children’s book illustrators from across the United States and Canada. They bring to life the importance of tradition, family, and a respect for nature through different mediums using a unique and personal approach to each story. The exhibit’s respected artists include Jonathan Warm Day, Ron Hall, Joseph Jacobs, Michael Lacapa, George Littlechild, S.D. Nelson and local Lewiston illustrator, Erwin Printup, Jr. Erwin Printup, Jr. is a Cayuga/Tuscarora painter who received his degree in fine arts from the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His book, Giving Thanks, is a children’s version of the Thanksgiving Address, a message of gratitude that originated with the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. Giving Thanks has been presented as a feature title on television’s Reading Rainbow. Author and illustrator S.D. Nelson, of Flagstaff, Arizona, is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, known as the Sioux or the Lakotas, in the Dakotas. Nelson’s ancestors were people of the buffalo, which provided them with the majority of their food, warm clothing, and skins for their tipis. His work is held in both public and private collections and can often be found on book jackets, greeting cards, and album covers. Nelson’s authored books include Gift Horse: A Lakota Story and Star People: A Lakota Story, and he has contributed to illustrating Crazy Horse’s Vision and Jim Thorpe’s Bright Path by Joseph Bruchac and Spider Spins a Story by Jill Max. Many Winters Ago opens with a reception on Friday, February 1, from 5–9 p.m. with both Printup Jr. and Nelson in attendance to sign copies of their books. The Native American Museum of Art Dancers will perform a traditional dance with the Tuscarora School Dancers and the band Pale Face will perform live. The event is alcohol-free and there is no admission charge. In addition to the exhibit, on each Saturday in February Art Express will feature stories from the exhibition with theme-based activities for the whole family. For more information, visit www.niagara.edu/cam or call 286-8200. back to top back to table of contents Current Issue | About Forever Young | Where to Find | Advertise | Our Advertisers | Community Calendar | Contest | Clubs | Contact Us | Archives | Home |
