Combining Art and History
Combining Art and History
Cultural Center in Salamanca to Showcase Haudenosaunee Artists
Photos / Seneca-Iroquois National Museum
How do you blend history with the present? How do you tell a story of things long passed to the newest generation? How can you make learning these things fun? The Onösagwë:Dë Cultural Center has the answer. The Haudenosaunee Spring Art Show returns for its 2nd year, March 25, 2023 from 10:00am-4:00pm. It’s the perfect opportunity to share the culture - then and now - with all those interested.
This is a juried art show for Haudenosaunee artists ages 18 and up. The purpose of the event is to give artists a professional venue to show and market their work while also making it more accessible to the general public. The deadline to submit your application is March 13. All entries must be original works created during the last twelve months. Anything submitted must also be sellable and artists may submit up to 10 photographs for all (3) works considered. For more information check out the museum’s website at senecamuseum.org.
The particulars aside, this is a very exciting showcase. Acting Director Hayden Haynes stated, “We are making this an annual event. We hosted the first one back in 2018 and then everything with Covid happened and plans had to change. Now that things are working their way back to normal, we’re happy to bring it back. We want to thank some of our sponsors, the Seneca Nation of Indians (SNI) President Rickey Armstrong Sr, SNI Treasurer Matthew Pagels, and the SNI Council Office. Their continued commitment to supporting the cultural center in every aspect is vital to our success.”
According to Haynes, dozens of professional artists, museums, and galleries from New York and Pennsylvania have been invited to the Salamanca venue. “Our goal is to stablish and sustain an annual show of exquisite Haudenosaunee arts,” he explained. “We are doing this show in the beginning of the calendar year so our guests can get a glimpse of the artists’ newest, most recent projects.”
The Spring Art Show will feature five categories for artists to enter in: Paintings, Drawings and other Mixed 2D Media; 3D Fine Art (like sculptures); Beadwork; Basketry; and Traditional Arts.
“Art is rooted deep in our culture. The story of our peoples cannot be told without including the things our ancestors made,” said Haynes. “Their contributions to our culture (especially before historic record), coupled with oral history are the reasons why we have the understanding of who we are today. That is why art is important. We honor and remember our ancestors’ contributions by showcasing our art and culture in the present.”
And those skills can also earn great rewards at the Spring Art Show, with prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category, a best of show award and the juror’s choice award. The total purse will be well over $10,000 dollars that’s a wonderful opportunity for any artists involved!
Plan to take in the beautiful craftworks that will be on display and for sale March 25 at the Onösagwë:Dë Cultural Center’s Spring Art Show. At least 30 artists are expected to showcase their works, and you may just find yourself not only learning, but leaving with a unique item to display in your home! If you can’t make it out, the museum is open Monday through Friday, 10:00am-4:30pm daily, closed Saturday and Sunday. You can always reach out by calling 716-945-1760 for more details or to book a private tour. Visit senecamuseum.org to keep up-to-date on new exhibits and other upcoming events.
