The Cattaraugus County Arts Council and Jamestown Community College Center Gallery are proud to present the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) exhibition, “From Turtle Island: Our Traditional Expressions,” curated by Native American artists Penelope Minner – basket artist and member of the Seneca Nation, Turtle Clan – and Peter B. Jones – potter/sculptor and member of the Onondaga Nation, Beaver Clan. The exhibition opens on Friday, November 3rd from 5-7pm with a gallery reception that is free and open to the public. The exhibition runs through December 7th and visitors are invited to experience the beauty and artistry of the Haudenosaunee rich, cultural heritage during this month-long exhibition.
      Five of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy are represented in this exhibition. The artists hope to enlighten visitors to the past, present and future of their people and their traditions and raise the local and regional profiles of Native artists by sharing their traditional art forms.
      Every artist in this exhibition recognizes the vital importance of keeping their cultural traditions alive by practicing their particular art form and, in turn, passing those skills, knowledge and traditions on to the next generation. The artists participating in this exhibition, their Nation, clan and art forms are:  Mary Annette Clause, Mohawk, Bear Clan (raised beadwork, cornhusk dolls, moccasins); Hayden Haynes, Seneca, Deer Clan (antler carving); Debra Hoag, Seneca, Turtle Clan (beadwork, cornhusk dolls); Tom Huff, Seneca-Cayuga, Deer Clan (mixed media sculptor); Mary Jacobs, Seneca, Turtle clan (flat and raised beadwork); Samantha Jacobs, Seneca, Turtle clan (beadwork, traditional clothing); Peter Jones, Onondaga Nation, Beaver Clan (stoneware pottery and sculpture); Mike Jones, Onondaga-Seneca, Hawk Clan (pottery, sculpture, pen and ink); Penelope Minner, Seneca, Turtle Clan (splint baskets, cornhusk dolls, watercolors); Erwin Printup, Cayuga, Bear Clan (painting); Diane Shenandoah, Oneida, Wolf Clan (sculptor);  Roger Thompson, Seneca, Turtle Clan (drawing, painting, wood burning); Carson Waterman, Seneca, Snipe Clan (painting, drawing, sculpture).
      The Cattaraugus County Arts Council works in collaboration with Jamestown Community College to produce this exhibition series. The Center Gallery is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m.-3 p.m. The gallery is closed on weekends and all college