Native American life, art to be focus of event, exhibits

This summer, exhibit space in the University of Connecticut Libraries will abound with examples of Native American artistic traditions.

Artifacts from the collections of the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and Connecticut Archeology Center, juxtaposed with the work of contemporary artists, will demonstrate the enduring spirit of Native American art forms. The exhibits run from June 5 through Aug. 20.

In conjunction with the exhibits, the Libraries will sponsor a daylong “Gathering in Celebration of Native American Life and Artistic Traditions,” featuring dancers in Native American regalia, drumming, storytelling, books, vendors, and more on Saturday, June 10, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., on the South Plaza of Homer Babbidge Library.

As part of the event, the Libraries will sponsor lectures by two UConn faculty members: Connecticut State Archaeologist Nicholas Bellantoni will speak on “Native American Site Preservation and Public Awareness: The Role of the State Archaeologist and the Importance of Collections,” at 1 p.m.; and Kevin McBride, professor of anthropology at UConn and research director of the Mashantucket-Pequot Museum and Research Center, will speak on “10,000 years of Native History at Mashantucket” at 2 p.m.

Both lectures will take place in the Konover Auditorium at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center.

In addition to the exhibit of Native American artifacts from the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, other exhibits include: “The Clan Mothers” and “Between the Sky and the Earth: Aboriginal Spirituality” by Sylvia Bertolini, and “Cedars Song Flutes” by Jim Adams.

“The Clan Mothers,” acrylic on board with relief in paper paste, includes 13 art pieces, which symbolize the medicine wheel of the clan mothers.