Native American artist heads 'Cabin Talk' program
By Judy Bowman Journal correspondent| Posted: Wednesday, August 20, 2008
LE MARS, Iowa -- Calling Iowa "a very special place," artist/historian Robert Morris has come home to his roots this week to unveil his collection of Native American art.
Now a resident of Las Vegas, Morris will be the keynote speaker for "Cabin Talk" at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Plymouth County Historical Museum.
The museum will present a three-in-one celebration Thursday on the grounds near the Civil War-era log cabin: a Chamber After 5, the recognition of National History Day winners and a reception for the traveling exhibit of Native American art.
The public will have an opportunity to meet Morris during the Chamber After 5 reception. Following the After 5 event, a 7 p.m. program will highlight the National History Day gold medal winners from Akron-Westfield and Le Mars Community Middle schools. Val Philips will present the Akron-Westfield students and Jeanne Rust will introduce her Le Mars students.
Portraits of Native Americans line the first floor hallway at the museum throughout this week. The traveling exhibit of chalk drawings by Morris opened Tuesday afternoon.
Morris, a native of Marshalltown, Iowa, is traveling through the area in hopes of finding a home for his Native American collection known as "First Americans."
The theme of his "First Americans" collection is how the Indian appears at the beginning of the millennium. He is painting one person from each reservation or rancheria in the lower United States.
"Too often we think of Indians as somehow still looking like the pictures from the past. I would like to show Americans that these Indians -- the First Americans, are active and working, planning, learning, driving cars and shopping in the malls. No different than you and I," Morris said.
"Getting to know all of the Indians, I noticed that many are religious" and all are spiritual. I've tried to paint their spirit in their faces, Morris said.
His travels throughout the United States to photograph Native American tribes have left him with many memories, friendships and recipes, always handy when he cooks on his mobile chuck wagon.
Morris has his own recipe for fry bread, but Thursday night, while he is talking art and history, Barbara Tagami, naturalist for Dickinson County, will be in charge of the fry bread.
In case of rain, the free program will be moved to "Old Central" Gym.
Now a resident of Las Vegas, Morris will be the keynote speaker for "Cabin Talk" at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Plymouth County Historical Museum.
The museum will present a three-in-one celebration Thursday on the grounds near the Civil War-era log cabin: a Chamber After 5, the recognition of National History Day winners and a reception for the traveling exhibit of Native American art.
The public will have an opportunity to meet Morris during the Chamber After 5 reception. Following the After 5 event, a 7 p.m. program will highlight the National History Day gold medal winners from Akron-Westfield and Le Mars Community Middle schools. Val Philips will present the Akron-Westfield students and Jeanne Rust will introduce her Le Mars students.
Portraits of Native Americans line the first floor hallway at the museum throughout this week. The traveling exhibit of chalk drawings by Morris opened Tuesday afternoon.
Morris, a native of Marshalltown, Iowa, is traveling through the area in hopes of finding a home for his Native American collection known as "First Americans."
The theme of his "First Americans" collection is how the Indian appears at the beginning of the millennium. He is painting one person from each reservation or rancheria in the lower United States.
"Too often we think of Indians as somehow still looking like the pictures from the past. I would like to show Americans that these Indians -- the First Americans, are active and working, planning, learning, driving cars and shopping in the malls. No different than you and I," Morris said.
"Getting to know all of the Indians, I noticed that many are religious" and all are spiritual. I've tried to paint their spirit in their faces, Morris said.
His travels throughout the United States to photograph Native American tribes have left him with many memories, friendships and recipes, always handy when he cooks on his mobile chuck wagon.
Morris has his own recipe for fry bread, but Thursday night, while he is talking art and history, Barbara Tagami, naturalist for Dickinson County, will be in charge of the fry bread.
In case of rain, the free program will be moved to "Old Central" Gym.
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TOBEY wrote on Sep 6, 2008 3:00 AM: