September 13, 2010

UNH is pleased to present Invisible/Visible, a group exhibition of contemporary regional Native American artists curated by the renowned painter George Longfish (Seneca/Tuscarora). It features a wide range of media by indigenous people who have lived and/or worked in New England: the culturally layered encaustics of Gina Adams (Ojibwa), the powerful stone sculpture of Tim Shay (Penobscot), the whimsical ash and pantyhose baskets of Judy Dow (Abenaki).

Mr. Longfish has shown his own work at the Smithsonian and around the world; for thirty years he was Professor of Native American Art, and director of the C.N. Gorman Museum, at the University of California-Davis. Since moving to southern Maine in 2003, he has been increasingly interested in his northeastern colleagues, wanting to help highlight their fine work and foster artistic community.

George volunteered to curate this exhibition as a companion to “First Nations, Lasting Nations,” a conference at UNH on September 17-18 that brings together scholars, Native American activists and community members interested in sharing knowledge about partnerships between New England universities and Native American communities.

The opening reception will be Friday, September 17th from 4 to 6 pm in Special Collections on Level 1 in Dimond Library. The exhibit runs from September 17th to December 17th.

Milne Special Collections and Archives is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. during the semester.

For more information about the conference, as well as an earlier UNH New England Native American art exhibit, call 862-2466 or visit the Center for New England Culture, or call the University Museum at 862-1081.