Simon Zornes show through Thursday, July 31 in the upstairs gallery

Artist reception on Friday, July 11th from 2-5 pm

Using native rock and wood, Simon Zornes creates powerful images expressive of his Anishinaabeg heritage.  Here are three images that tell more about Simon’s work than words can.  Please visit with Simon in person on Friday, July 11th from 2-5 pm during the Summer Celebration in New York Mills.

Zornes1Zornes2Zornes3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following is Simon’s artist’s statement:

Boozhoo (greetings), Ishkode Indizhinikaaz (my spirit name is Fire), Makwa Indoodem (I am from the Bear Clan), Gaawaabaabiganikaag Indoonjibaa (I am from White Earth). I have lived and learned from Maamaa Aki (Mother Earth) for nearly 4 decades – harvesting manoomin (wild rice), gathering and making ziinzibakwad (maple sugar), and growing minomiijim (good food).

Along with harvesting, I have been creating sculpture with asin (stone) and mitig (wood) for over a decade. My journey with asinoog (Stone grandfathers/grandmothers) began when my dear friend, Tim Stone, and I started finding and playing with unique rock from the moraine region of the Mississippi Headwaters and White Earth Reservation.

I have found that each stone holds many stories that access me as their storyteller. One includes the geological saga of its creation and composition over eons. The others evolve from images invoked from within me as a result of the interaction between the stone’s unusual characteristics and the narrative it shares with me. Some pieces start from a gentle low pitch whisper and take days and often weeks to unfold due to both the quiet reverberation and the time it takes to research, sketch, and find the “right” angle and tool. Others boldly present and need less attention presenting in near final form.

Most of the sculptures have indigenous themes like mikinaak (turtle), miigwan (feather), and Chief Hole-in-the-Day the younger. Since the asinoog have spirits of their own, they often choose their resting place.   Many sculptures have been gifted to friends and family. Larger creations have found homes throughout the Bemidji Sculpture Walk, the Minneapolis American Indian Center, and my private sculpture garden. Others have found resting spaces throughout the country via my website “Art from Nature.”