Main Gallery Exhibit February 3 – March 5, 2016
Presentation & Reception Sunday, February 28 @ 7pm

tumblr_ns3muxqjgO1tv51r3o1_1280The Cultural Center is pleased to present current gallery exhibit, Stencil Prints of Navajo Sand Paintings by anthropologist and artist Maud Oakes. These prints are from a 1943 record of a rare Navajo war ceremony called “Where The Two Came to Their Father.” Essential to Navajo (Dine) ceremonies are temporary sacred images popularly called sand paintings. Oakes created her originals in watercolor, on site, during the telling of the ceremony by medicine man Jeff King over several meetings in 1942 and 1943.

Later these prints and narrative were collected and published as a book, with commentary by famous mythologist Joseph Campbell, and as a set of prints. Today it is still the most complete first-hand record of a Navajo ceremony available.

There is a second story to this collection. The reason for its circulation today is that it was rediscovered in a trunk on the scenic Mallard Island home of Minnesota environmentalist Ernest Oberholtzer. “Ober,” who battled for the establishment of our nation’s largest green space, The Boundary Waters Canoe Area and adjacent preserves, was also an adventurer, storyteller, artist, lobbyist, collector and mentor. The exhibition of these prints allows us the opportunity to retell his life story and remember his gift.

On Sunday, February 28th at 7pm, join us for a free public presentation at the Cultural Center in collaboration with the Wadena County Historical Society. Artists Kent Scheer and Stephen Henning will introduce the current exhibit and tell the story of The Oberholtzer Legacy.

Gallery hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays 10am-7pm, Fridays 10am-5pm, and Saturdays 10am-3pm. Admission is free and open to all.