“What Continues the Dream: Contemporary Arts and Crafts in the Powwow Tradition” is on display at the Nevada State Museum through August 7, 2010. This colorful exhibit, on loan from the Nevada Arts Council’s Nevada Touring Initiative, presents art and crafts that capture the vibrant spirit of the contemporary powwow, Nevada-style.
Personal quotes from the artists reflect the deep spirituality, family values, sense of community, and honor prized by powwow artists and participants. The exhibit includes photos and stunning examples of powwow regalia, including a hand drum, rattle, beaded belt, bracelet and moccasins, dance stick and more. For more information, contact Deborah Stevenson at 775-687-4810, ext. 237.
The Nevada Arts Council’s Folklife Program worked with consultants from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, the Las Vegas Indian Center, and the Nevada Indian Commission to develop What Continues the Dream.
The exhibition will tour the state for two years as part of the Nevada Touring Initiative. Partner organizations include the Nevada Indian Commission/Indian Territory, Pyramid Lake Museum, Stewart Indian School, Las Vegas Indian Center and Nevada Humanities, with major funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The exhibit includes artwork by Native American artists W. E. Burke, Cassandra Leigh Darrough, and Gordon Gibson; documentary photography by Ronda Churchill, Lindsay Hebberd, and Bruce Rettig; and folk art objects created by William Aster, Arlene Austin, Dean Barlese, Lynnaya Comas, Ramona Darrough, Wesley Dick, Deanna Domingo, Ryan Dunn, Rebecca Eagle, Linda Johnson-Comas, Angie Quintana, Steven Mike, Adam Fortunate Eagle Nordwall, Bobbie Nordwall, Ken Paul, Burton Pete, Debra Reed, Manuel Rojas, John Bear, Kenny Anderson, and Francine Tohannie.
The Nevada State Museum actively engages people in understanding and celebrating Nevada’s natural and cultural heritage. Exhibits highlight the state’s history, geology, plants and animals, Native American cultural heritage, Historic Carson City Mint, a replica walk-through mine, and ghost town. Current changing exhibits include Interwoven 2010: Visions of the Great Basin Basketmakers (through July 24), Slot Machines: The Fey Collection, and What Continues the Dream: Contemporary Arts and Crafts in the Powwow Tradition.
Image: Nevada State Museum
Due to mandatory state budget restrictions, the museum is closed Sunday through Tuesday, and open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Wednesday through Saturday. Please enter through the Dema Guinn Concourse. Admission: $8 for adults and free for children 17 and under and museum members. For information, call (775) 687-4810.
The Nevada State Museum is one of seven managed by the state Division of Museums and History, an agency of the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs. The Department serves Nevada’s citizens and visitors through cultural and information management, presentation and promotion of cultural resources, and education. The Department also includes the State Office of Historic Preservation, Nevada State Library and Archives and the Nevada Arts Council. For more information, please call Teresa Moiola at (775) 687-8323 or visit the department’s website at www.NevadaCulture.org
