A Voice from the Eastern Door
A Voice from the Eastern Door
The Salli Benedict Basket Exhibition is open at NNATC.
The collection includes an array of innovative basket types, and beautiful specimens at that.
Here is an example of a unique design contained within the collection.
Several purses are included in the collection.
It seems that conversations about Salli Benedict include a series of compliments, but one that stands out is that she was a tremendous supporter of the arts in Akwesasne. An accomplished artist in her own right, Benedict had one of the largest collections of baskets in the area. Besides the sheer amount, which number close to 200, 88 of which are on display, another thing that set the collection apart is the variety; collecting fancy, pack and baby baskets, purses, knitting and crocheting baskets.
Benedict kept track of all the names and other information for all the baskets she acquired. The baskets on display are in immaculate condition, and the other half of the collection is being catalogued by the family and will make its way to the NNATC for long-term loan.
The exhibit opened during the 2013 Travelling College Friendship Days in the larger exhibition room besides a large Gesso Thomas painting, and complements the existing collection which is housed in a smaller room. The exhibit is open to the public during normal business hours, which are 8AM to 4PM Monday through Friday. Larger groups can contact the Travelling College to make accommodations.
Coming up there will be a Gesso Thomas Exhibit, and the Travelling College is asking for help from the community to share some of their Thomas pieces for the exhibition. In addition, more efforts to showcase other painters and artists of other mediums are underway as well. A recent exhibition of John Thomas’ work was held, and was well received and the artist was thrilled with the show.
“In the 43 years he has been painting it’s the first time he had a show dedicated to himself,” said Native North American Travelling College Director Russell Roundpoint.
There are hopes to showcase all of our local artists. On a trip out west, Roundpoint noted he saw artists from Akwesasne displayed.
“Carving, pottery, moccasins, beadwork of all kinds, these are all things we would like to showcase. They’re here and we don’t do anything for them, and I thought that’s not right. So I thought we should start to do something to change that. We need to appreciate the talent we have here.”
For more information or to make arrangements to see any of the work on display, you can contact the Travelling College at 613-932-9452.
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