2014 State Native American Art Exhibit at the Atrium Gallery New Visions New Curators Series

Rhode Island State Council on the Arts presents the "2014 State Native American Art Exhibit" at the Atrium Gallery @ One Capitol Hill. This exhibit is part of the New Visions New Curators Program.

Curator: Dawn M. Spears (Narragansett/Choctaw)

Curator Statement: “This exhibit is a wonderful collection of both contemporary and traditional art forms that are representative of our New England Native American culture. We have hand twined bags made from natural materials, copper jewelry, weaving, quilled birch bark, hand painted items, several dolls, paintings, photography, and a wonderful collection of youth art that includes a painted longboard, with several works in watercolor, acrylic, pencil, and charcoal. This year’s exhibit provides a wonderful opportunity for visitors to take in a variety of art forms that express our connection to our history, culture, and land in maintaining our traditional arts, but also in our contemporary expression.”- Dawn M. Spears

Curator Bio: Dawn Spears has taught over twenty-five years youth and adult classes, coordinated cultural events, dance troupes, and created educational programs and materials for native language and arts. Alongside her role as a mother, grandmother and wife of twenty-nine years, she finds that being able to create original art that typifies Eastern Woodland culture and tradition to be a true outlet.

Co-Curator: Loren Spears (Narragansett)

Co-Curator Statement: “The youth are our future. They create art taught by their families and tribal elders and bring our history and culture to future generations. Native youth incorporate their traditional culture into everyday life using contemporary materials and representing our culture past, present, and lead us into the future.” - Loren Spears

Co-Curator Bio: Lorén M. Spears is the Executive Director of the Tomaquag Museum and has been an educator for over 25 years. Lorén holds a Master’s in Education from the University of New England. She has taught in public, private and cultural educational settings. Lorén shares her cultural knowledge and arts learned through her family with the public through classes, lectures, tours and other programs. She develops strong partnerships with other community organizations to educate the public regarding Native culture.

Participating Artists: Elizabeth James-Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag), Julie Marden (Aquinnah Wampanoag), Cynthia Ross-Meeks (Narragansett, Wampanoag, Pequot), Debbie Spears Moorehead (Seaconke, Pokanoket Wampanoag), Jonathan Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag), Angel Beth Smith (Narragansett), Yolanda Smith (Seaconke Wampanoag), Cassius Spears, Jr. (Narragansett), Loren Spears (Narragansett), Dawn Spears (Narragansett), Graham Gruner (Narragansett), Indira Miller (Mayan), Lynsea Montanari (Narragansett), Robin S. Spears, III (Narragansett)

Performances: Lynsea Montanari; Neposet Singers- Larry Fisher, Cody Moorehead, Charles Smith, Edmund Spears, Tim Two Guns)

Partnerships: Tomaquag Museum

Atrium Gallery at One Capitol Hill
Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) developed the Atrium Gallery to recognize talented artists from communities throughout the state. The Atrium Gallery hosts multidisciplinary exhibitions in partnership with diverse artists and cultural organizations. The gallery features a stunning tall glass ceiling with light that cascades into an open space surrounded by three walls of artwork. This has become a destination point for visitors and the many people who frequent the Administration offices at One Capitol Hill, while enriching the environment for hundreds of state workers in the building.

State Native American Art Exhibit
The Native American Art Exhibition holds the distinction of being the first Regional Intertribal state art exhibit in partnership with Native American nonprofit organizations and artists. It is through these artworks that traditions, both old and new, evoke a story of cultural preservation. These exhibitions feature beautifully crafted folk and traditional art pieces, as well as newly created contemporary artwork.

New Visions/New Curators Program
The Atrium Gallery encourages the development of new curators and gallery directors from diverse communities through the New Visions/New Curators Program. Artists of color are provided logistical support to curate a show by defining a theme, professionally installing the artwork, and creating marketing materials that promote the exhibit. Previous participants have curated exhibitions in local and regional galleries and museums. This highly successful program has become an incubator for new curators that promote viewpoints and voices of artists of color.

The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts is a state agency supported by appropriations from the Rhode Island General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. RISCA provides grants, technical assistance and staff support to arts organizations and artists, schools, community centers, social service organizations and local governments to bring the arts into the lives of Rhode Islanders. To learn more visit www.arts.ri.gov