Creating: Quilts of the Lakota
Wokage: Lakota Wicahi Owinja Kin
February 9 – April 7, 2013

PHILADELPHIA —  Creating: Quilts of the Lakota presents twenty eye-dazzling 20th century quilts from The Heritage Center at Red Cloud Indian School, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota. Several of the quilts in the exhibition are exhibited publicly and published for the first time. The exhibition and related catalogue reflect a three-year collaboration between the Arthur Ross Gallery and The Heritage Center.

Mary V. Bordeaux, a SICANGU LAKOTA and guest curator, selected the superb Star quilts that reflect just a fraction of The Heritage Center’s collection. In the exhibition catalogue Ms. Bordeaux notes: “When receiving a quilt…a Lakota person feels a sense of pride and respect, and those feelings are embodied in each and every quilt.”

To add historical and cultural context, 19th-century Lakota artifacts, including moccasins, a cradleboard, and parfleche boxes, are included in the exhibition and lent by the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

These artifacts reflect Native American sewing traditions prior to the introduction of quilting in the 1880s by missionaries at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Visitors will discover both Lakota quilting techniques and as learn more about Lakota traditions.

This exhibition promotes interdisciplinary learning, engages new audiences, and involves Penn faculty and students.

Tours of the exhibition will be offered on weekend afternoons at 1 pm to the public.

Additional support for Creating: Quilts of the Lakota and the exhibition catalogue is provided by: Mrs. Arthur Ross, Mr. George Gillespie, the Arthur Ross Exhibition Fund, the Friends of the Arthur Ross Gallery, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

RELATED PROGRAMS:

Unless otherwise noted, events are at the Arthur Ross Gallery. For details call 215-898-3617 or email arg@pobox.upenn.edu.

Saturday, February 9, 11:00 am Artist Talk with Lakota quilter Janyce Trask
Friday, February 22, 7:30 pm World Premier Reading of Miracle Play by Sheldon Wolf

Creating: Quilts of the Lakota continues at the Arthur Ross Gallery through April 7, 2013.

The Gallery is located at 220 S. 34th Street, Philadelphia, and is free and open to the public.

HOURS:
Weekdays 10:00am – 5:00pm; Weekends 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Closed Mondays.
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To reserve a group tour please contact us at arg@pobox.upenn.edu or 215-898-3617. Additional information is available at www.upenn.edu/ARG or 215-898-2083.