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Gidibaajimomin-'We Tell Stories'


  • Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge 3815 American Blvd. East Bloomington, MN 55425 United States (map)

Gidibaajimomin-'We Tell Stories'

June 16 - September 3, 2023 📍Confluence Gallery

ARTIST: Gordon Coons

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

In Gidibaajimomin-'We Tell Stories', Gordon Coons’ work comes from his heritage of Ojibwe.  He is an enrolled member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin. he currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and have been a resident here for the past 46 years.

He uses his traditional Ojibwe clan animal stories to educate people about our shared relationship with the natural world. He creates Ojibwa stories of celestial events, animals, and man by painting in the Ojibwa Woodland art style, reduction block prints, and transferring cedar smoke to paper.

His creations are a journey to a better place by creating a stronger relationship between animals and nature. 

 

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Gordon Coons creates artworks in a variety of mediums, including cedar smoke, linoleum relief prints, paintings in oil or acrylics, pen and ink, and stone and wood-assembled sculptures.  His artworks portray a contemporary view of traditional Native stories.  Coons is a self-taught artist who has shown in exhibitions around the country, including Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian on the national mall in Washington, D.C.; Santa Fe Indian Market, New Mexico, Eiteljorg Museum of Indianapolis; Cherokee At Market in Tulsa Oklahoma; Dakota Discovery Museum in Mitchell, South Dakota.  Coons has won numerous awards and commissions and is represented in permanent collections of institutions such as the Red Cloud Indian School Heritage in Pine Ridge, SD; the Summit Medical Center of Oakland, CA; Essentia Health in Duluth, MN; Red Earth, Oklahoma, OK; and Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center, Chamberlain, SD; Madison College – South Campus, Madison, WI.

 

Coons states: “My inspiration comes from my Ojibwa and Ottawa heritage.  I express my culture through artworks using a contemporary style.  I enjoy incorporating playfulness in my images, telling stories of the relationships between western and Native culture, and the connections we have to our shared historical events. My goal as an artist is to channel my creativity, eliciting a more universal interpretation of my work and heritage.”

ABOUT THE LATINO CONSERVATION WEEK FESTIVAL

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, la Ciudad de Bloomington, Indigenous Roots y Huellas Latinas presentan Latino Conservation Week Festival, un evento donde celebramos las culturas de la comunidad latina y la naturaleza que nos conecta a todos. Ven a disfrutar un día de música, arte y comida. ¡Todos son bienvenidos a este evento GRATUITO!

Disfrute de danzas culturales, pruebe algo nuevo en los Food Trucks, descubra la vida silvestre en la presentación de animales, ¡y mucho, mucho más! Explora el Refugio y descubre nuevas formas de disfrutar del aire libre. Las primeras 250 personas en llegar también recibirán boletos de comida gratis para usar en los Food Trucks. ¡Este es un evento que no querrás perderte - trae toda la familia!

Se compartirán más detalles próximamente sobre estacionamiento, artistas y más! Estén atentos... 

Fecha y Hora: Sábado, 22 de Julio, 2023, 1 - 5 PM

Ubicación: Bloomington Education and Visitor Center - 3815 American Blvd. E, Bloomington, MN 55425

El Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de los EE. UU. se compromete a garantizar que ninguna persona se excluye la participación en actividades o sea privado de beneficios de sus servicios sobre la base de alguna discapacidad. Por favor comuníquese con Oscar Hernández al correo (oscar_hernandez@fws.gov) con solicitudes de servicios u otras necesidades con validez de diez días antes del evento.

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 Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, the City of Bloomington, Indigenous Roots and Huellas Latinas presents Latino Conservation Week Festival, an event to celebrate the cultures that make up the Latino community and the nature that connects us all. Join us for a day of music, art, and food. Everyone is welcome at this FREE event!

Enjoy cultural performances, try something new at the food trucks, discover wildlife at the animal presentation, and so, so much more! Explore the efuge and discover new ways to enjoy the outdoors. The first 250 people to arrive will also receive free meal tickets to use at the food trucks. This is an event you won't want to miss - bring the whole family!

Stay tuned for more information on parking, performers, and more!

Date and Time: Saturday, July 22, 2023, 1 - 5 PM

Location: Bloomington Education and Visitor Center - 3815 American Blvd. E, Bloomington, MN 55425

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to these events for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, closed captioning, or other accommodation needs at least ten business days before the event to Oscar Hernandez at oscar_hernandez@fws.gov.


Gidibaajimomin-'We Tell Stories' is available for viewing at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Confluence Gallery Thursday-Sunday 10:00 am-4:00 pm.

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