An Evening of Native American Arts

The Lippman School and The Summit County Historical Society Present

An Evening of Native American Arts

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Akron, OH: The Lippman School and the Summit County Historical Society will present an evening of Native American arts, on Tuesday, October 13, at 7PM, featuring Peter Jones, Onondaga Tribal member and nationally renowned sculptor. The event will be held in the Shaw JCC Auditorium, at 750 White Pond Drive, which is located on the same campus as The Lippman School.

Jones, who created the iconic bronze sculpture of an American Indian carrying a canoe along the Portage Path in Akron, will share a presentation of his work spanning 50 years of artistry. Jones is known for his pottery and sculpture, some of which is on display at the National Museum of the American Indian, in Washington, DC.

Summit County Historical Society Board Chair, Dave Lieberth, says this will be the first time Jones has returned to the Akron area since his sculpture was dedicated in 2001.

“When the Historical Society launched the initiative to mark the exact route of the historic Portage Path; we sought a Native American sculptor who would bring authenticity to the job of creating statues marking the terminus points. Peter Jones is a highly regarded in the community of Iroquoian artists, and accepted the challenge to create markers that are today among the few monumental sculptures of an American Indian, created by an American Indian artist in the U.S. His return to Akron will allow a new generation of students to learn about Native American culture from an authentic source.”

Lippman’s Head of School, Sam Chestnut, adds “Our school’s partnership with The Northern Cheyenne Nation offers not only our students, but the entire Akron community the opportunity to consider the significant historical and modern contributions that indigenous people have made in the experience of shaping culture. The Lippman School model encourages meaningful and deep cross-cultural learning to help students develop their own sense of identity and to carry on their traditions from generation to generation.”

Jones’ visit will also include clay pottery and sculpture workshops with Lippman School students, during a week of Native American-themed activities in connection with the school’s ongoing cultural exchange program with the Northern Cheyenne Nation in Montana. Northern Cheyenne bead artists and musicians, who are part of a Lippman School cultural exchange program, will also present examples of their work.

Art will be available for purchase.

Lippman School Humanities Teacher, Matt Russ, says the focus of the exchange program, which is now in its fourth year, has been expanded to include a more concentrated study of the rich indigenous history of the Akron area.

“Bringing in a Native artist, who created significant artwork to honor the history of indigenous tribes in our area, is an important learning opportunity for our students. Any time students have the opportunity to learn from a professional of any kind, it broadens their perspective, and it affords them the opportunity to connect what they learn in the classroom, to their community and the world.”

Admission is free, but reservations are required. Call 330-836-0419, or visit www.thelippmanschool.org to RSVP by noon Monday, October 12.

· An Evening of Native American Arts

· 7PM, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015

· Shaw JCC Auditorium, 750 White Pond Drive, Akron, OH 44320

· RSVP by noon, Oct. 12, 2015

· 330-836-0419, or www.thelippmanschool.org

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