7 Artists, 7 Teachings

September 20 - December 30, 2009

Seven contemporary Native American artists from the Great Lakes region will unveil their interpretations of the revered principles known as The Seven Grandfather Teachings in an exhibit on view September 20 to December 30, 2009.

"7 Artists, 7 Teachings: Contemporary Great Lakes Native Art” is a group exhibition that explores the themes of truth, respect, love, bravery, honesty, humility, and wisdom that are central to the ethos and worldview of the Anishinabe tribes of the Upper Midwest — the Chippewa (Ojibway), Ottawa, and Potawatomi, also known as the Council of the Three Fires. Each artist will exhibit a work based on one of the teachings, plus other pieces produced in 2009.

The exhibit is organized by the Mitchell Museum and curated by participating artist Kelly Church. The exhibition artists and their tribal affiliations, artistic media, and assigned teachings are as follows:

• Shirley Brauker (Little River Band Ottawa); pottery; honesty
• Kelly Church (Grand Traverse Band Ottawa and Chippewa); black ash baskets, birch-bark bitings, and paintings; humility
• Dennis Esquivel (Grand Traverse Band Ottawa and Chippewa); woodwork and paintings; respect
• John Fox (Pokagon Band Potawatomi), paintings; bravery
• Martha Grandolf (Ho-Chunk); loom weavings; truth
• Yvonne Walker Keshik (Little Traverse Band Odawa); porcupine quill boxes; wisdom
• Cherish Parrish (Gun Lake Band Potawatomi); black ash baskets; love

Each artist will plumb his or her personal experiences and reflections in depicting a Grandfather Teaching.  Native tradition holds that the seven teachings, which foster social harmony and engender respect for the interdependence of all living things, are gifts bestowed on mankind at the behest of the Creator by powerful spiritual beings called The Seven Grandfathers.

Exhibits are funded in part through a generous grant from the

HOURS & ADMISSION
Tuesday – Saturday:
10am – 5pm
Thursday: 10am – 8pm
Sunday: 12pm – 4pm

Adults: $5.00
Children, students, teachers, seniors: $3.00 
Mitchell Members: FREE
Tribal Members: FREE

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