It is our hope that this exhibition encourages your own artistic curiosity. We aim to lead with our hearts to promote inclusiveness, artistic creativity, and a greater understanding of our shared humanity. – Wendy Savage and Alison Aune
Ojibwe, Sámi, and Nordic artisans have always decorated domestic objects and ceremonial clothing with sacred patterns. Traditional arctic designs, woodland and garden flowers, vines, leaves, and berries symbolize a spiritual relationship with nature. Today, artists featured in this exhibition are preserving, reinterpreting, and revitalizing cultural patterns. This exhibit shares their work as they explore and honor their cultural roots and ancestral traditions through art with goals of unity, healing, and celebration.
The exhibition, first shown at the Nordic Center in Duluth, Minnesota, is curated by Wendy Savage and Alison Aune. Participating artists are Alison Aune (Duluth, Minnesota), Chi Ma’iingan (Cloquet, Minnesota), Laurel Sanders (Duluth, Minnesota), Wendy Savage (Duluth, Minnesota), Dr. Lisa Savage (Binghamton, New York), and Marlene Wisuri (Duluth, Minnesota).
In addition to motifs that cross cultures, the exhibit explores the cross-cultural practice of swaddling (wrapping) babies to keep them safe and warm. Swaddled babies were often placed in carriers and in bags, called buntings, moss bags, påsar, and poser, depending on the language and culture. Beautiful designs decorated the bags for daily life and for special occasions. The exhibition will include old and new baby bags. There is a resurgence of interest in creating beautiful baby bags and carriers. Respect and love of baby and culture is reflected by the new creations.
Listen to a recording of the opening gallery talk with the artists here!
All six exhibit artists will give an online presentation on January 12, 2025. Find out more and register for the Zoom link here.
