Museum exhibits look at Native Indian traditions

While at the Nevada State Museum, be sure to visit "Interwoven 2010: Visions of the Great Basin Basketmakers," in the Dema Guinn Concourse and North Changing Gallery. Interwoven 2010, which ends July 24, represents the finest in both contemporary and traditional basketry, including innovative woven sculptures of natural and man-made materials.

"What Continues the Dream: Contemporary Arts and Crafts in the Powwow Tradition" is on display at the museum through Aug. 7. This colorful exhibit, on loan from the Nevada Arts Council's Nevada Touring Initiative, presents art and crafts that capture the vibrant spirit of the contemporary powwow, Nevada-style. It will tour the state for two years.

Personal quotes from the artists reflect the deep spirituality, family values, sense of community, and honor prized by powwow artists and participants. The exhibit includes photos and stunning examples of powwow regalia, including a hand drum, rattle, beaded belt, bracelet, and moccasins, dance stick, and more. The Nevada Arts Council's Folklife Program worked with consultants from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, the Las Vegas Indian Center, and the Nevada Indian Commission to develop What Continues the Dream.

The exhibit includes artwork by Native American artists W. E. Burke, Cassandra Leigh Darrough, and Gordon Gibson; documentary photography by Ronda Churchill, Lindsay Hebberd, and Bruce Rettig; and folk art objects created by William Aster, Arlene Austin, Dean Barlese, Lynnaya Comas, Ramona Darrough, Wesley Dick, Deanna Domingo, Ryan Dunn, Rebecca Eagle, Linda Johnson-Comas, Angie Quintana, Steven Mike, Adam Fortunate Eagle Nordwall, Bobbie Nordwall, Ken Paul, Burton Pete, Debra Reed, Manuel Rojas, John Bear, Kenny Anderson, and Francine Tohannie.

The museum is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is $8 for adults and free for children 17 and younger and museum members. For information, call 775-687-4810 or visit nevadaculture.org.