Ojibwe, Sami and Nordic artisans have always decorated domestic objects and ceremonial clothing with patterns. Traditional artic designs, woodland and garden flowers, vines, leaves and berries symbolize a spiritual relationship with nature.
Today artists in this exhibition are preserving, reinterpreting, and revitalizing cultural patterns. They are exploring and honoring their cultural roots and ancestral traditions through art.
It is our hope that this exhibition encourages your own artistic curiosity! We aim to lead by our hearts to promote inclusiveness, artistic creativity and a greater understanding of our shared humanity.
Wendy Savage
Wendy Lee Savage is an enrolled member of the Fond du Lac Reservation- the Lake Superior Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. She has a BFA from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Wendy has received numerous grants and awards including the Mattie Simons Advocate Award from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council 2019. She has over 40 years of arts and educational experiences. She was professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Indian Studies Department. Ms. Savage is a working artist and works have been displayed and awarded at both local and international levels. She is an independent curator and for over 17 years was part of the “Ojibwe Art Expo” planning committee and artist. She was part of the Contemporary Native American art scene in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Wendy’s artwork reflects her Ojibway heritage, bridging the past to the present, the traditional to the contemporary
Dr. Lisa M. Savage
Dr. Lisa M. Savage Ph.D. Degreed from the University of Minnesota, in Psychology and Neuroscience, is a professor of chair of Psychology at Binghamton University, State University of New York. She is an enrolled member of the Fond du lac Reservation-the Lake Superior Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. The concept for the beaded bag comes from
her memory of the beautiful Minnesota summer flora, including wild strawberries. She is a beadwork artist and designed and beaded her personal regalia. Dr. Savage has exhibited her work on the local Duluth art scene. She resides in Vestal, New York and makes visits to the Duluth area during the summertime.
Laurel Sanders
Laurel Sanders lives on the St. louis River inside of the city of Duluth. In her work linking arts and community she has created and coordinated murals, painted scenery for community theaters and taught art in schools and programs. Her father’s family are from Norway. She has children who are Anishinaabe . She is a a board member of the Sami Cultural Center and also enjoys events at the Nordic Center. She does both finger weaving, practiced by the Ojibwe, Nordic and Sami, and the patterned band weaving practiced by the Sami and Nordic People.
Sarah Agaton Howes
Sarah Agaton Howes is an Anishinaabe-Ojibwe artist, designer, and CEO from the Fond du Lac Reservation in Northern Minnesota. Sarah specialized in in bringing together traditional and contemporary. She teaches art classes, creates custom art and designs for Eighth Generation and her Ojibwe design company: Heart Berry.
Chi Ma’iingan
Chi Ma’iingan is a member of the Fond du Lac Lake Superior Ojibwe. He lives an Ojibwe seasonal lifestyle on the Reservation with his 5 children. He recently retired ad Chief of Police of Fond du Lac. He now owns a small a business called Round Lake Traditions. Round Lake Traditions specializes in Ojibwe art and apparel. His applique sewing can be found all over Indian Country. His apparel ranges from men’s and women’s formal wear and women’s dance regalia. Beading, leather work feather work bone and wood carving are just a few other thigs Chi Ma’iingan works with.
