Museum features many woodland artists

Observer Staff

10/2/2003 12:00:00 AM

The Native American Gallery, located on the Central Michigan University campus, is a place for area visitors to see firsthand many pieces of indigenous art covering many mediums.

The gallery is located on the corner of University and Bellows streets, inside Rowe Hall's Center for Cultural and Natural History. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The gallery opened in 1994 with about 100 original pieces donated by Olga Denison, a 1940 CMU graduate. Denison had been collecting the artwork since 1960. Throughout the years, she acquired both traditional and contemporary pieces primarily created by Saginaw Chippewa Tribal members.

Artists who have their works displayed in the gallery include Gary Quigno, Eli (Chief Little Elk) Thomas, Alan Pego, Sam Pego, Shirley Brauker, Jean Pego, Norman Neyome, Carl Pelcher, Kevin Chamberlain, Frank Chickum, Larry Sprague, Enos Willis, James Strong, Edmund Pigeon, Alice Bennett, John Nahgahgwon, Dan and Geraldine Jackson, Lahy Bailey, "Smokey Joe" Jackson, Issac Pelcher, Dennis Christy and Robert "Angry Bear" Biron.

For more information, contact Museum Director Lynn Fauver at (989) 774-3829.