Memory and Vision: Native Arts of the Great Plains
“The American Indian has tenaciously held on to his arts, not in the sense of the object alone, but rather as a fabric that binds and holds together many dimensions of his very existence. The arts are to him an expression of the integrated forces that tie together and unify all aspects of life.”

Arthur Amiotte, 1992
Plains Indian people have always turned to the arts as a means of expressing and communicating cultural knowledge, beliefs and values, tribal histories, and understandings about the land and universe as a whole. From generation to generation, Plains artists have creatively incorporated new ideas and materials with historical and traditional designs as powerful expressions of cultural identities and their own lives and experiences.

The 2005 Plains Indian Museum Seminar of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center will address the theme: Memory and Vision: Native Arts of the Great Plains.

Suggested topics for presentation include Plains cultural artistic traditions, the work of particular artists, museum interpretation and public artistic presentations, trade and influences of the marketplace, arts education, and contemporary artistic expressions. Presentations that address new areas of Native American scholarship are encouraged.

Individuals interested in participating in the Seminar are invited to submit a 250 word abstract along with a resume by April 28, 2006. Scholars and educators from tribal colleges and communities are especially invited to participate.

Please submit papers or contact with any questions:
Jesse K. Siess
Public Programs Coordinator
Education Department
Buffalo Bill Historical Center
720 Sheridan Avenue
Cody, WY 82414
307-578-4028
jesses@bbhc.org