INDIANA UNIVERSITY PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING Administration Building, Suite 136 355 N. Lansing Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-2896 317-274-7711 Fax: 317-274-5457

PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBIT KICKS OFF IUPUI'S CELEBRATION OF NATIVE AMERICAN MONTH

INDIANAPOLIS - IUPUI will kick off the celebration of Native American Heritage Month on Wednesday (Nov. 1) with an 11:30 a.m. opening reception for the photographic exhibit "Powwow Portraits of Native Americans."

Twenty-four color photographs taken by Seattle photographer Ben Marra during powwows across America will be on display through Nov. 22 at the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Cultural Arts Gallery, located in Room 115 of the University College, 815 W. Michigan Street.

The exhibit will give viewers a look into the inner circle of the cultural gatherings of Native Americans that showcase dance, music and regalia. Marra, assisted by his wife, Linda, has photographed powwows for the past 12 years, capturing hundreds of colorful images, some of which are featured in a 2001 calendar currently in local bookstores.

"When we began to assemble images for this exhibit we realized that we wanted to include more than just pictures, so Linda took the job of collecting and helping to record the subject's own words to accompany their photographs," Ben Marra said. "We have tried to create here for our readers - and for our subjects as well - a close approximation of our own very moving experiences on the powwow trail."

The IUPUI exhibit is being held in conjunction with other events scheduled throughout the month on campus and at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, the Cultural Arts Gallery's partner.

Throughout November, all IUPUI staff, faculty and students with ID will be admitted free to the Eiteljorg Museum.

Other IUPUI-hosted events for Native American Heritage month include:

· "Learn at Lunch" three-part video series, "How the West was Lost," Nov. 6, 13, and 20, Student Activities Center.

· Bookmark discussion: "Mud Women: Poems from the Clay" by Nora Naranjo-Morse, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 14 in Room 3171 of University College, 815 W. Michigan. Bring your own lunch. Call IUPUI Bookmark info line at 274-4371.

· Akwesasne Mohawk artist, poet and performer Alex Jacobs will talk about his work on the project "500 Years of American Indian Stereotypes," 11:30 a.m., Nov. 30, at the Cultural Arts Gallery.

The Cultural Arts Gallery is open daily. For specific hours, call 278-2817.

Wednesday's reception hours are 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

In addition to the reception, a noon workshop featuring a talk by Katrina Mitten, a member of the Miami tribe, will be held at the gallery. To reserve a spot at the workshop, call (317) 278-2817.

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