MICHIGAN CITY — About two years ago, a group of Native American inmates at Indiana State Prison, who had come together around a set of community precepts, decided to do something for the world outside.
Working with beads, pencils, acrylic and deer skin, they have been making crafts at the beginning of each weekly meeting, prior to their traditional ceremonies, so they can give something back, said volunteer Karl Dennis.
For the second year in a row, the Southern Shore Art Association is hosting the "Dreamcatchers" exhibit, an annual fundraising event designed to help both the community and show off the 150 pieces of inmate art. Proceeds will again go to Camp New Happenings in Milford, so children ages 8 to 11 with incarcerated parents can go to camp despite financial challenges.
A reception for the exhibit will be held at the association's gallery, 724 Franklin St., on Friday, beginning a 5 p.m. Flutist John Sarantos will play Native American music.
Several other businesses in Michigan City will continue the First Friday events during the Mainstreet Association's break from art walks through March. Participants will include The Nest, Urban Soles, Maxine's Restaurant, Mainstreet Theatre, Uptown Portraiture Collective and the Lubeznik Center for the Arts.
Karl, whose ancestry includes Cherokee and Blackfoot and who has worked on a number of reservations, said he had been collecting Native American art for almost 60 years. Three pieces from his collection are also included in the gallery, although they are not for sale.
The works in "Dreamcatchers" will be priced between $5 and $400.
Karl said the group of inmates, numbering about 42, is one of many Native American Circles in prisons across the country. He said he thinks it is great people in prison feel strongly about helping the community.
"When I'm with them, I can see it in their eyes – how they feel about this process," he explained.
He said he has met extremely intelligent and extremely caring people in this group.
His wife, Kathy Dennis, said some of the jewelry is also stunning. In addition to the artistic value, the artwork can teach people about the culture. And she loved that the inmates were learning lessons in the group to help contribute to their rehabilitation.
The group's statement of purpose says members want to help others in four levels of consciousness: Intellectual, physical, emotional and spiritual. The ceremonies include songs, smudging and the sacred pipe.
The members are to follow seven virtues: Respect, honesty, generosity, honor, service, wisdom and humility.
He suggested people could find authentic Native American art elsewhere, like Merrillville or Dowagiac and Saugatuck, Michigan, but the works in this exhibit were "reasonably rare."
Karl said he was invited to volunteer at the prison because of his work on several reservations. He has also worked in mental health and child welfare in regard to Native Americans. This has led to his growing concern about the social conditions of these people.
A recent estimate put their number at 2 million, but their life expectancy at only 65 years, he said. According to December 2015 information from the Bureau of Prison Statistics, Native Americans comprise 2 percent of federal prisoners, a much higher percentage than the 322,900,000 estimate of the U.S. population from the U.S. Census Bureau would indicate.
However, Native Americans have endured a history of being forced to take up Western ways and culture, Karl said. Outsiders can come onto reservations and commit crimes against the residents without fear of prosecution, he alleged. These may be some of the reasons for the alcoholism among Native Americans.
He thanked the staff at the prison for helping this group arrange the exhibit.
"Without the help of the staff at the prison, this would not have been able to happen," he said.
Also at 5 p.m., Urban Soles, 624 Franklin St., will host Kim Gettaw and her homemade items from Nest #4, Chris Acton and her weaving products from Acton Creative and Eric Thompson and his furniture from Thompson's Tables.
Maxine's Restaurant, 521 Franklin St., will host the Pete Castronova jazz trio from 9 p.m. to midnight.
The Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 1001 W. Second St, will hold an opening reception for the fiber installations of Meredith Setser, the abstract paintings of Jay Zerbe and the interactive sculptures of Jonah Ortiz from 5 to 8 p.m.
The Nest, 803 Franklin St., will again host Andrew Bucksbarg and his noise-making musical synthesizers. He will also host a workshop on making these devices on Feb. 13
Resource : http://www.thenewsdispatch.com/news/article_5ce31af1-72d1-591d-8e6f-717602b25fbc.html
