Autumn 2014 Candi Wesaw, American Indian artist, illustrator and educator
Artist Candi Wesaw with (l-r) Dick Shiels, Newark Earthworks Center, Burt Logan, Executive Director and CEO of the Ohio History Connection, Dr. William MacDonald, dean/director of Ohio State Newark, Marti Chaatsmith, Newark Earthworks Center, and John Low, JD, PhD., Assistant Professor of Comparative Studies at Ohio State Newark.
Candi Wesaw is from Hartford, MI and a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indian Nation. Wesaw is deeply connected to her culture, heritage and the arts. She works in multiple mediums and formats, including illustration, textiles, photography and traditional native arts. Drawings depict tribal rituals of the past, while photographs show how her tribe continues these traditions in modern day Michigan and Indiana.
“Her artwork really captures the unique essence of the Potawatomi tribe, and it’s an honor to have that on display here,” said John N. Low, JD, PhD. Assistant Professor in the Department of Comparative Studies at Ohio State Newark.
Examples of her work can be found, here.
Sunday, October 12, 2014 Artist's Reception
More than 75 works focusing on the rich culture of the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Indians by Potawatomi artist, illustrator and educator Candi Wesaw were recently featured in the LeFevre Hall Art Gallery. Eighteen elders of the Pokagon Band travelled to Newark from southwest Michigan and northwest Indiana to attend the Gallery Opening. Wesaw and other citizens of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indian Nation also attended an Open House earlier in the day at the Newark Octagon Earthworks as guests of the Newark Earthworks Center (NEC), an official center of the university.
“The Shwatso Shkote Collection, or “Prophecy of the Eight Fires,” was an especially moving collection; showing where the Potawatomi have come from and the possibility that we all may be fated to disappear if we choose to over-rely on technology to solve our human problems,” stated Josh Robison, student participant. He added: “The entire day was very educational and moving; it helped me to better understand the struggles that Native peoples have gone through in this country.” Robison is a senior at Ohio State Newark double majoring in Psychology and History.
This event was graciously sponsored by: the Newark Earthworks Center, The Ohio State University Newark, the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indian Nation, the American Indian Studies Program at The Ohio State University, the Ohio History Connection and the Cultural Arts and Events Committee.
For more information, contact John Low, JD, PhD., Department of Comparative Studies at low.89@osu.edu.
