The Peru Gazette

PLATTSBURGH, NY –The Strand Center for the Arts is thrilled to host a Native American Artists Exhibition in the Main Gallery in February, 2017. This forthcoming exhibit features artwork from several local Native American artists including: Sue Herne, Dukon Harris, David Fadden, Martin Loft, Leah Shenandoah, and Jordan Thompson. The exhibit opening will take place in The Strand Center Main Gallery on Friday, February 3 with a reception that free and open to the public will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The artists brought together for this show have a wonderful diversity of styles with an equally diverse assortment of media and approaches to creating art. For instance, David Fadden, a painter and illustrator of national renown, paints what he sees around him, meaning the animals of the Adirondack Mountains and the Mohawk people of his community, with a recent focus on painting the human face and anatomy. But, the people he paints are not direct portraits. They are more imaginary portraits created to dispel the false portrayal of the stereotypes commonly associated with Native peoples by showing laughter and other emotions. Another artist, Dukon Harris, uses acrylic paints, colored pencils, and wood as his media to depict the images and scenes from his imagination and bring them to life for people to observe his thoughts, creations, and the culture of his rich heritage as well as the Mohawk Tribe of which his wife is a member. Yet another artist, Leah Shenandoah, an award winning singer/songwriter, jeweler and multi-media artist, creates art that is homage to the experience of love and life where she attempts to capture an emotion, or a moment in time of pure love.

David Monette, Gallery Director at The Strand Center for the Arts stated, “The collection of incredibly talented artists and their work assembled for this show is truly amazing. Take Martin Loft as an example, his work has been shown in the Smithsonian, in Germany, Italy, and Quebec. It’s pretty incredible that we have an artist of his caliber here in Plattsburgh. And he’s only one.”

This unique exhibit will be on view in The Strand Center Main Gallery at 23 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh from February 3 to February 24, 2017. The exhibition opening is Friday, February 3 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information on exhibits, upcoming events, concerts, or classes happening at The Strand Center for the Arts, please call 518-563-1604 or visit strandcenter.org.

The Strand Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a high caliber arts center and theatre, exposing the community to the best of visual arts, music, dance, and theatre. The SCA is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), Cloudsplitter Foundation and the United Way.

Platinum Circle Sponsors for The Strand Center of the Arts are The University of Vermont Health Network, Champlain Valley Physician’s Hospital, Meadowbrook Healthcare, and Twinstate Technologies. Gold Sponsors for the Strand Center for the Arts are Northern Insuring/Northern Benefits, Boire Benner Group, Best Western Plus – The Inn at Smithfield, WPTZ – Channel 5, Casella, Clute Wealth Management, and Jeffords Steel and Engineering Company.