Trepanier Hall Being Renamed to Honor Dr. Robert Powless at AICHO Fifth Anniversary

I first became aware of the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) at Trepanier Hall when I attended Al Hunter's poetry reading from his book Beautiful Razor in 2013. Since that time I have lost track of the number of events I've attended there. A truly vibrant cultural center has evolved there and many lives touched and spirits lifted.

This week I received notice that there will be a celebration Friday evening in which the hall will be renamed the Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center. Here are details about the event, AICHO and Dr. Powless.

GIMAAJII-MINO-BIMAADIZIMIN 5TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: RENAMING TREPANIER HALL TO HONOR DR. ROBERT POWLESS AICHO ANNIVERSARY

DULUTH, MN -- On Friday, March 24, the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) will be hosting a community event to celebrate Gimaajii-Mino-Bimaadizimin’s fifth year of operation. The event is taking place from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in Trepanier Hall, located at 212 W. 2nd Street in Duluth. Trepanier Hall itself will be renamed the Dr. Robert Powless Cultural Center in honor of Dr. Robert Powless, an Oneida elder, activist leader and University of Minnesota - Duluth professor emeritus of American Indian Studies. AICHO is asking that guests RSVP by emailing rose@aicho.org or calling 218-722-7225; the event will include a feast and is free of charge.

Dr. Robert and Linda Powless

The American Indian Community Housing Organization is one of 27 nationwide facilities that focus on a specific ethnic group. They provide housing services for people suffering from long-term homelessness, transitional housing for survivors of domestic abuse, and they run a 10-bed domestic violence shelter - the only Native American shelter that provides services to battered women and their children in the seven county area surrounding Duluth, Minnesota. Honoring the resiliency of Native American people, AICHO’s vision is to strengthen our community by centering indigenous values in all aspects of their work. The Gimaajii Building opened as AICHO’s headquarters five years and includes 29-units of permanent, supportive housing utilizing the “housing first” model. On-site services include assessment, advocacy, case management, and programming. AICHO’s operating philosophy is that every American Indian man, woman and child deserves to live in a safe, non-threatening environment and should be treated with dignity and respect. Mental health services are provided through a partnership with White Earth Mental Health. Other partners include: Fond du Lac Reservation, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Mending the Sacred Hoop, and the Research for Indigenous Community Health Center. Gimaajii also provides a place for people who have a common history and culture to come together, to learn from others, and to share that culture with others. In the traditional manner of respecting elders, life-long learning is encouraged throughout the Gimaajii. Over the years, dozens of organizations have been able to reserve space to hold meetings, have feasts, and to gather at the building and AICHO hopes to continue its tradition of opening its doors to the community.

In conjunction with its supportive services, AICHO has established a thriving arts and cultural program. AICHO works with Native American and emerging artists to help them overcome barriers to their professional careers including unexpected costs, public awareness, and finding their voice in the community. They host hundreds of events year and average over 11,000 visitors annually. Many of these events have taken place in their auditorium / art gallery space, Trepanier Hall. The night of Gimaajii-Mino-Bimaadizimin’s 5th Anniversary Celebration, AICHO is planning to officially unveil the new title of this space in honor of Dr. Robert Powless.

Dr. Powless is an enrolled member of the Oneida Nation of Indians in Wisconsin; he earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison before going to the University of Minnesota’s main campus to obtain his doctorate in educational administration. Dr. Powless was chosen for the honor as a result of his long-term support of Gimaajii-Mino-Bimaadizimin. In the beginning, he served as an advisory member of the Duluth Indian Commission on the AICHO development committee and he and his wife donated $50,000 of their retirement funds toward the establishment of its American Indian Center (Gimaajii). By personally advocating on behalf of homeless American Indians at Minnesota Housing, Powless was able to help AICHO secure the funding that has allowed it to become the organization it is today. Dr. Powless still visits Gimaajii every week while his wife runs errands, spending a few hours each time sitting in the lobby and interacting with children, staff and guests alike. He recently celebrated his 84th birthday and the renaming of Trepanier Hall will be a surprise announcement from AICHO during Gimaajii’s celebratory event.

AICHO Galleries Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/aichogalleries

Subscribe to the AICHO Arts & Cultural Programming E-Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cdpMOf

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Much more can be said, and will be said in the days and years ahead. Tomorrow is simply a marker along the way that something good has been happening here.

Photo credit: Ivy Vainio

Local Art Scene: Saturday Evening with Steveboyyi @ the AICHO

While driving to Trepanier Hall Saturday evening I privately hoped there would be a good turnout for the art show featuring Steveboyyi Makubuya, the young man temporarily here in the Northland from Africa. As we slowed to find a spot to park on Second Street it was gratifying to see all the parking spaces were taken well into the next block. This would be a good crowd I surmised, and indeed it was.

Entering the hall one was immediately struck by the good vibes and energy. Dozens of drawings and pictures filled the walls with conversations taking place in front of each. The murmurs and chatter were indicative of an unusual level of excitement for this show. A WDIO cameraman filmed from different vantage points in the room as a continuous thread of people filed in. Across the room I could see Kelly McFaul-Solem of CPL Imaging rushing to make a mark on the tag of yet another picture indicating it was sold. A keen eye would have observed that numerous other pieces had already been snatched up.

At a certain point Moira (rhymes with Theory) Villiard took the stage and corralled the crowd's attention in order to introduce the young man from Uganda whose artwork was here displayed.

Steveboyyi began by explaining his name and where he came from. When he was found at nine months old and brought to the orphanage in Kampala he had no name and no birth date. Kids called him Street Boy, so it was simple enough to give this a twist. He would be Steve Boyyi. An African last name was adopted and he became Steveboyyi Makubuya.

When it came to filing to get a visa he needed to have a birth date. Imagine if you could choose any day for your birthday. What would you choose? He chose a date that was important to him in October.

Throughout his talk he expressed such joy and natural enthusiasm that the crowd remained fully engaged throughout his storytelling. He shared how when he was seventeen the orphanage closed and he returned to the streets. For more than two years he slept in a tree and fed himself from the dumpsters at a college hear where he made his "home." When he described how the birds were his best friends and the rain was his enemy, everyone laughed.

After his speech the children gathered to hear more stories.

WDIO sent a cameraman to document the event.

It was fortuitous that he should meet some missionary nurses who were serving in Africa. When invited to America to share his art, there were regulations to be overcome. In order to leave Uganda you have to have land and family or you will not be issued papers. These rules were set aside when he showed his art.

Tim Turk, one of the nurses who assisted in bringing him to Northern Minnesota, would tell Steveboyyi and other young people there what snow was like. "In Uganda," Steveboyyi said, "People don't believe snow exists." And with a very big smile he exclaimed, "I really love snow!"

He told another very funny story. So many things here were new to Steveboyyi, and on one occasion when they came out of a store after shopping he saw a dog in the driver's seat of a car in the parking lot with its front paws up on the steering wheel. Tim Turk told Steveboyyi that in America even the dogs can drive. The young artist said it took him three weeks to learn that this was not true.

In addition to original artwork there were also reproductions available.

The beginning of what will hopefully be a long friendship.

He closed by telling us of his deep gratitude for all the people who have helped him, and reminding us that we should be grateful for all that we have. There are so many kids on the streets in Uganda who have nothing.

You can read more of Steveboyyi's story in my previous blog post and in Christa Lawler's March 2 DNT account.

A quick shout out to Michelle LeBeau, AICHO Director, who has helped bring so many really special events to this facility. Though she keeps the spotlight on the performers, poets, writers and artists, she deserves to be recognized for her role in making these events happen. Thank you, Michelle. You are making a good contribution to our community.

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To see more of Steven Boyyi's paintings and drawings, visit this page at Jeff Frey Photography/CPL Imaging.

Local Art Seen: Rodrigo Bello at Trepanier Hall

"Rain"

Friday evening Trepanier Hall hosted a Rodrigo Bello exhibition titled Northland-Southland. Bello's paintings caught my attention the first time I saw a few of his pieces at a PROVE Gallery show titled Transplants which featured artists who have recently moved to our community. Bello is originally from Santiago, Chile where he attended an arts high school, which eventually led to a career as an engineer. Along the way he met and married a Duluth girl. After nine years in Chile together the pair moved here to the Northland. It's my understanding that the Bellos will be moving to Minneapolis next, which I believe will provide excellent opportunities for the artist to showcase his work to a broader audience.

Bello's paintings have a striking, evocative quality. There's a shroud-like mystical sense in much of his work which combines indistinct, moody abstract backgrounds with sharply defined characters or scenes, as illustrated in Fishing Day below. There are also paintings revealing a social conscience, most forcefully his Three Voices which echo the monument to Duluth's infamous lynchings. (May we never forget.)

"Three Voices"

"Fishing Day"

Like many of the art receptions at Trepanier Hall, the evening is orchestrated to be an event as well. In this case Kathy McTavish and Richie Townsend provided a musical accompaniment, Rocky Makes Room shared his spoken word art, Jake Vainio performed with his guitar and Bello himself shared a few words from the heart.

As Bello noted in an interview last October, "Art plays a significant role in any society. It creates a sense of self-awareness. This is essential if we want to pursue a better, peaceful and joyful society."

The walls were crowded with paintings, and some might call that a criticism as it didn't allow enough breathing space between pieces. In point of fact, the abundance of work enabled the Bello to showcase his range. Here are some of the pieces you missed if you were unable to attend.

"The Trapezists"

"Santiago 1973" (detail)

Rodrigo Bello will be an artist to watch over the comping years. 

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Engage it.

Recommended: Rabbett Before Horses Strickland’s “Right to Consciousness” Art Exhibition and Artist Reception

Last night I stopped in at Trepanier Hall to get a sneak preview of tonight's "Right To Consciousness" exhibit featuring the paintings and drawings of Rabbett Before Horses Strickland of the Red Cliff Reservation. There will also be a musical program featuring Lyz Jaakola, Jake Vainio, Kathy McTavish and Richie Townsend.

In addition to the program there's a book available, titled From Dreams May We Learn, featuring Strickland's art. The book includes an interview conducted by Ken Bloom, director of the Tweed Museum, a prosaic portrait of the artist by David Treuer, and stories by Jean Buffalo. It's a beautiful book which the artist will be present to sign if you arrive early enough.

Ultimately, it is the art itself that is remarkably compelling, which I highly recommend attending if you are at all in the vicinity of downtown Duluth tonight. It's a free event that will make an impression on you.

WHEN: Friday, June 27, 2014 @ 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Gimaajii Mino Bimaadizimin-Trepanier Hall AICHO American Indian Housing Organization (AICHO), 202 W. 2nd Street Duluth, the former YWCA

His art depicts past and present injustices through dreams of spirits and humans centering around Nanabozho, the hero in Ojibwe stories and descendant of West Wind and a human woman. He has sold his paintings to international collectors in Japan, Europe and Canada. The artist, a member of the Red Cliff and Bad River Bands of Lake Superior Ojibwe, currently lives in Bayfield, Wisconsin.

Some of his experiences growing up in San Francisco are relayed in the book. His work has been exhibited in London, Santa Fe, Minneapolis, the Tweed Museum of Art here in Duluth, as well as galleries in California. His art is also part of a traveling exhibit by Honor the Earth and he sells his paintings to collectors around the world.

It's the scale of the work that is impressive. Though equally impressive is the beautiful manner in which he creates his stories on canvas, sometimes with simplicity and often with epic complexity. Hopefully, I will see you there.

You can read more about Rabbett Before Horses here.

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There are other places to satisfy your art fix here in the Twin Ports tonight. Renegade Theater's excellent production of the Tony Award-winning RED is still on tap at Teatro Zuccone. Before or after the show you can linger in the Zeitgeist Atrium to see Brent Kusterman's paintings and wall art.

Meantime art goes on all around you. Celebrate it.

Local Art Seen: Emerging Artists Fill Trepanier Hall

Saydee Lanes with her striking illustrations.

Despite a busy schedule I went out of my way last week to see the EMERGE art show at Trepanier Hall, home of the American Indian Community Housing Organizations (AICHO) in Downtown Duluth. The show's aim was to showcase up-and-coming artists and undiscoverered talent. In addition to the art there was also a musical program, which I regret having missed as I later heard it was quite good.

The hook for me was Moira Villiard, whose paintings have caught my attention this past year, including a painting she submitted to the Dylan-themed art show at the Red Mug Coffeehouse during the month of May. Some of the artists are showing their work for the first time. The styles varied, as did the mediums worked in. Though most of the work was painting and illustration, there was also sculpture and jewelry. The evening also included more than two hours of musical performances.

Here are some of the noteworthy pieces that captured my attention.

Moira Villiard's portraits are show stoppers.

Hanging pieces in the entryway to the hall.

Haylee Goranson showed some interesting work and a lot of variety.

Another impressive piece.

Meantime, art goes on all around you. Celebrate it.