“The Heritage Center fosters creative opportunities for and understanding about Native artists and art.“ (Mission Statement – The Heritage Center, Red Cloud Indian School)
Over the past 49 years, the Red Cloud Indian Art Show has celebrated the works of hundreds of Native artists. The Art Show is hosted by The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Through the show, artists from across the country have shared their incredible talents, from the traditional arts of beadwork, quilting, and ledger art to sculpting, painting, and photography, and challenged lingering stereotypes about what defines Native art. Director Mary Maxon notes, “Our artists inspire others to follow their dreams to launch their own careers in the arts and inspire our students to express themselves in new and important ways.”
The Red Cloud Indian Art Show is the largest, longest Indian art exposition of its kind in the country. Since its birth in 1968, it has opened windows of opportunity for many Native artists and inspired visitors from around the world. Hosting 82 participating artists with 177 pieces of art on display, the art show serves as a “gateway for young emerging artists” that are just beginning their careers.
The current show will be available for viewing through August 13th, 2017. In addition, the Heritage Center is hosting a traveling show entitled “Horse Nation of the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ.”
Special thanks are extended to Mary Maxon and Ashley Pourier, Director and Curator at The Heritage Center.
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Feature Photo by Dr. Valerie Pronio-Stelluto – “The Dance Stick” by artist Evans Flammond Sr. (Sicango Lakota / “Black War Bonnet Society”).
Article and photography by Jim Storm and Valerie Pronio-Stelluto MD
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Jim Storm is a photographer living in Los Angeles. The last four years he’s been traveling and photographing people on the move, riding in Greyhound buses, exploring the northwest states of Montana, S. Dakota and North with a little Nebraska thrown in. “The heart of America is the open road,” Storm declares. Living up to that quote, Jim plans to spend the spring and summer months in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, photographing Lakota artists.
Dr. Valerie Pronio-Stelluto is a physician with a passion for photography. As a former Director of Medical Student Education and “Humanism in Medicine” award recipient at Harvard Medical School, Valerie was also a photojournalist documenting the clinical journey of her Harvard and MIT students in becoming competent and compassionate doctors. As a member of the Board of Governors of the Massachusetts American College of Physicians, Valerie has been lauded for her photo contributions. Valerie looks forward to joining Mr. Storm in continuing to photograph the Lakota people.