6650 E. Broadway • Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858
Phone: 989-775-4750 • Fax: 989-775-4770
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Stefanie Dombrowski, Sales & Events Coordinator • sdombrowski@sagchip.org
Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways
6650 E. Broadway • Mt. Pleasant, MI  48858
Phone 989.775.4744 • Fax 989.775.4770 • www.sagchip.org/ziibiwing

For Immediate Release - January 19, 2009

Mt. Pleasant, Michigan    The Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways will open a new changing exhibition entitled, Artistic Expressions of the Great Lakes Indians, on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 3:30pm. The exhibit grand opening is free and open to the public.

The early Indians of the Great Lakes recognized the reciprocal relationship between them and their natural surroundings. Living in concert and stewardship with North America's Northeastern and Southeastern woodlands, their culture reflected this deep connection to the land, sky, and water. Their art was inspired by the beauty and resources of Mother Earth; utilizing the animal, mineral, and vegetable gifts from nature. The objects were primarily utilitarian and made for everyday use, but many artistic pieces were personal adornments that incorporated astronomy, clan affiliation, spirituality, and status.

The Artistic Expressions of the Great Lakes Indians exhibition will present beautifully constructed cultural material from after the period of European contact into the early 20th century. It will show a range of object types that characterize traditional Great Lakes Indian art including beadwork, birchbark, quillwork, clothing, silk appliqué/ribbonwork, weavings, and woodwork. Drawing primarily from the collections of Laura Herrington, Royal Oak, Mich., Tom Noakes, Canfield, Ohio, Richard Pohrt Jr., Ann Arbor, Mich., and Mike Slasinski, Saginaw, Mich. The exhibit can be characterized as being inter-tribal and reflective of an evolving art style. Many of the artifacts that will be displayed have never been viewed by a general audience. For more information contact the Ziibiwing Center's Curator, William Johnson, at
(989) 775-4730.

The Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways in Mount Pleasant, Mich. is the Midwest's Premier American Indian Museum. Established in 2004, the Ziibiwing Center is a distinctive treasure created to provide an enriched, diversified, and culturally relevant educational experience through its award-winning Diba Jimooyung (Telling Our Story) permanent exhibit, changing exhibits, research center, Ojibwe language immersion room, gift shop, Wi-Fi coffee & media lounge, and meeting rooms. The Ziibiwing Center is a non-profit cultural center and museum belonging to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan who also own Michigan's only four diamond casino resort, the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, and the Saganing Eagle Landing Casino located in Standish, Mich.

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