Seneca Artists Will Pay Tribute to Cornplanter at New SINM Exhibition
Submitted by the Seneca Nation Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center
The Seneca-Iroquois National Museum, the showcase of the Seneca Nation Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center, is set to open a new exhibition titled Gayëntwahgöh: Cornplanter on Saturday, August 3, 2024. While the original Cornplanter monument, first erected on the Cornplanter Grant in 1866, serves as the exhibition nexus, the creations of two Seneca artists in their chosen medium as well as a permanent loan of an historic and original 1871 document will also be highlights of the highly anticipated exhibition.
Ken Williams, Jr., a Cattaraugus Seneca and Northern Arapaho beadwork artist and a Cornplanter descendant, carries memories of attending the annual Cornplanter picnic which is traditionally held on the first Saturday of August. Williams has titled his piece Remembering Ancestors saying, “This piece is for the people to see, for the people to enjoy, for generations to come and for honoring our ancestors. It’s not just remembering our ancestor Cornplanter, but it’s remembering our family, our people, our culture, and the ancestors that have come before us and at some point we’re going to be the ancestors for our generations to come.”
Luanne Redeye, an Allegany Seneca and portrait and figurative artist, says, “As my studio practice evolves I have been deepening my exploration of the personal histories of my family. With these histories I am also considering the shared history of the community, such as events that have brought joy or entanglements that have shifted families.”
Williams studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Sante Fe, NM, while Redeye received an MFA from the University of New Mexico. Both reach far back into their family and community experiences, knowledge and histories to connect to their contemporary artistic pursuits. Each is nationally and internationally recognized for their work and both creations will become part of the Museum’s permanent collection.
In 1871 the Cornplanter Grant was partitioned and allotted by the Orphans Court of Warren County in Warren, PA. Polly Logan, the only living child of Cornplanter at the time of the partition, would pass on by the end of that year. For purposes of the partition of the Grant a map titled Map of The Land of John O’Bail (a.k.a. Cornplanter) was drawn by surveyors F. Lightfoot and W. K. Walton and re-drawn in 1905 by William T. Falconer. The Warren County Historical Society will loan the original document to the SINM on a permanent basis.
According to Museum Curator Randee Spruce, organizing the exhibition “has been very insightful in learning more of our Seneca history as well as understanding the immense struggles of the Seneca people during that difficult time. This is an opportunity for our museum to share with the world what we have learned and gained through the creation of this exhibit.”
The exhibition will open to the public on August 3 at 10:00 am with a reception. To further commemorate the event, the Cornplanter Descendants Association will hold their annual picnic that day on the Museum grounds set to begin at 4pm.
Image caption:
Remembering Ancestors, 2024
Beaded pictorial pipe bag
Artist – Kenneth Williams Jr. (Seneca/Northern Arapaho)
