The College of New Rochelle’s Castle Gallery
Opens 26th Season with “50 Years of Powwow”
Redhawk Native American Arts Council to perform at Opening Reception

NEW ROCHELLE, NY, September 1, 2006 -- To mark the launch of its 26th season as a leading cultural resource in the metropolitan New York area, the Castle Gallery at The College of New Rochelle (CNR) will host 50 Years of Powwow.  The exhibit will be on display from September 10 through November 22, 2006, in honor of National American Indian Heritage Month. This exhibit is appropriate for children of all ages.  At the opening reception, scheduled for Sunday, September 24, 2006, 2–4 pm, The Redhawk Native American Arts Council will present traditional music and dance at the College Main Campus.  The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public.  
   
This exhibition was originally conceived and organized by the American Indian Center of Chicago and developed by The Field Museum (Chicago, IL) where it was first exhibited in 2003-2004.  Now offered as a traveling exhibit, the Castle Gallery will be the first venue on the tour.
   
Powwow has long been a vital part of the Native American community, providing an opportunity to celebrate Native culture and pass on important traditions.  This exhibition, organized around five main themes -- The Drum, The Grand Entry, Male Dancers, Female Dancers, and Community -- features 50 beautiful color and black and white photographs that portray the history of Native American powwow.  Lively photographs depict the cultural exchange of powwow through dancing, singing, visiting, and building relationships.

For the site-specific portion of 50 Years of Powwow, the Castle Gallery has procured and will exhibit selected works by contemporary Native American Indian Artists, such as Maria Hupfield, Barry Ace, Becky Olvera Schultz, Jeffrey Gibson, Diane Schenandoah and Wayne Waterman, Bently Spang and Bert Benally.  The Gallery’s goal with this exhibition is to broaden awareness about the history and significance of Native American culture and stimulate interest in the exhibition by appealing to a wider audience within the College and surrounding community.
   
Castle Gallery is located at CNR’s Main Campus at 29 Castle Place in New Rochelle, NY 10805. Castle Gallery Hours:  Tues & Wed, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, Thurs & Fri, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 12 noon to 4:00 pm.  The gallery is closed Mondays and major national holidays.  Images available upon request.  For additional information and directions, call (914) 654-5423 or click here .