Native American storytelling illustrated at Castellani

by Susan Mikula Campbell
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, January 31, 2008
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, February 2, 2008

Erwin Printup Jr., a member of the Tuscarora Nation, has spent many hours helping prepare the new exhibit at the Castellani Art Museum. "Giving Thanks," the children's book he illustrated, is featured as part of the exhibit.

Friday's wintery weather mix was certainly appropriate for the opening of a new exhibit at the Castellani Museum at Niagara University.

It's named after a Tuscarora phrase that translates to English as "Many Winters Ago...," a traditional opening for storytelling in the Native American tradition as tales were told around the longhouse fire while the weather raged outside.

Unfortunately, the weather meant an early closing for the museum and cancellation of Friday's opening party. But don't wait until the party is rescheduled. Visit the new exhibit today or anytime during regular museum hours.

The exhibit features works by several of the leading Native American children's book illustrators from across the United States and Canada, including one of our own, Erwin Printup Jr. of the Tuscarora Nation.

"Many Winters Ago..." is set up to enthrall both youngsters and adults. It fills two gallery rooms.

At the entrance to one room, visitors are met by a revolving sculpture by Joseph Jacobs, a member of the Cayuga, Iroquois, Bear Clan. Jacobs exhibits his work at the Native American Museum of Art at Smokin Joe's. This fascinating detailed piece, his latest work, debuts in the exhibit. "The Gift of the Great Spirit" illustrates in sculpture the story of how the Bear Clan was given the knowledge of medicinal plants.

This room also is a projection room, where two Native American documentaries will be shown, including the PBS "Reading Rainbow" show on which "Giving Thanks," illustrated by Printup, was featured. The story is a special children's version of the Thanksgiving Address, still spoken at ceremonial gatherings of the Iroquois and Six Nations today.

The second room captures the eye at every level. Here, large prints and a number of original illustrations from featured books fill the walls with color and life. Under each of 10 sections of art is a small, bright red station where a copy of the featured book is available for curious readers. The books also are being sold in the museum store.

Printup said the books and the artwork, not only show the different styles of the illustrators, but also give a view of what other Native American nations look like.

"It's a good experience for children," he said. "Maybe they can work on their own (art) styles."

The center of the room simulates the interior of a longhouse, with huge plastic logs and stumps (borrowed from the NU Theater Department) to provide seating, next to a "glowing" fire created by Lewiston sculptor Karen Abbo. Children can try one of the interactive stations, such as making puppets of characters from the books and acting out scenes on a small stage. Or, they can simply sit on the floor of the longhouse area to read the books.

"Every story is about a different aspect of life," said Michael Beam, curator of exhibitions and collections, noting that themes range from cultural tradition to family life and respect for nature.

This illustration, "Stars Coming Down," is from the book "The Star People: A Lakota Story," by S.D. Nelson, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the Dakotas.

Native American art is not new to the Castellani.

"Working with Iroquois artists, educators and community experts, the museum has presented a wide range of Native artistic expressions from large scale contemporary installation art to traditional raised beadwork," said Kate Koperski, the museum's director. "This latest project takes us beyond our region's Iroquois communities to explore the culture and artistic expressions of Native peoples from across Canada and the United States."

The ongoing partnership with the local Native American community led the museum to create "Many Winters Ago..."

"We didn't just do this ourselves," said Beam. "Each of our partners has done something to be a part of the exhibit and bring it out beyond our museum walls."

Printup, a Cayuga/Tuscarora painter, is a 1974 graduate of Niagara-Wheatfield High School and the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe, N.M. He and other members of the Nation and community have been involved with the planning committee for this exhibit since work started in June 2006. Now that the exhibit is ready to open, it's a thrill to see his artwork on the walls of the museum, he said.

"This exhibit is a wonderful opportunity for all young people, especially Native youngsters," said Joanne Weinholtz, Tuscarora culture teacher at Niagara-Wheatfield's Tuscarora School.

Youngsters at Tuscarora School have been preparing for a museum visit by reading the featured books, learning about who wrote them and what Native American community they belong to, as well as having a visit from author-illustrator S.D. Nelson, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the Dakotas, whose books "The Star People" and "Gift Horse" are part of the exhibit. When the opening party is rescheduled, the school's dance group, directed by Candy Chrysler, will participate along with the adult Native American Museum of Art dancers.

"We're trying to plant the seed, so we'll have the opportunity in the future to read one of my student's books in our classrooms," Weinholtz said.

Docent tours for school groups and community organizations are available. Beam said the school tour schedule already is filling up.

The exhibit will be open at the Castellani through June 30. Each Saturday in February, Art Express will feature stories from the exhibit with theme-based family activities. For more information, call 286-8286 or visit www.niagara.edu/cam.

The exhibit has been made possible by the support of Joseph Anderson; Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte; and the New York State Council on the Arts. Exhibition partners include Bob's Olde Books of Lewiston; Native American Community Services of Erie and Niagara Counties Inc.; Native American Museum of Art; Neto Hatinakwe Onkwehowe; Niagara-Wheatfield School District/Tuscarora School; PARP - Parents as Reading Partners; GoodMinds.com of Brantford, Ontario; Crayola of Easton, Pa.; and Quality Hotel & Suites of Niagara Falls.