Circle of Life

The area of American Indian arts is often approached with an awareness of the destructive pressures brought about by European and American societies. The awareness of these pressures, however, has sometimes stood in the way of appreciating the extent to which Indian cultural and artistic traditions have continued into the present time. These traditions have not been rigid and unchanging, but living expressions of a cultural heritage. Historically, they have combined ideas passed on over generations with new sources of inspiration. These qualities have been reflected in Ojibwe crafts of the past and present. The current exhibition focuses on recent Ojibwe crafts of Minnesota and their historical antecedents in the Great Lakes region. Because the division into states is not inherent in the culture, a few related modern Ojibwe pieces from other areas are also shown. Some kinds of ceremonial arts have not been included in the exhibition, because of their private or otherwise sensitive religious nature. Although the exhibition is limited to crafts media, it should be noted that many contemporary Ojibwe artists are working in fields such as painting, sculpture, graphics and photography, sometimes in addition to traditional crafts. -- from Preface, written by Edna J. Garte.