Please note – the artist reception with Nora Lloyd will now take place on Saturday, May 2 from 1 to 4 PM. The exhibition dates for romansusan.org/birchbark-wiigwaas will remain the same – April 4 through May 30, 2020.

Birchbark, Wiigwaas (The Beauty & History of Birch) presents new images by Nora Moore Lloyd, with archival material and images from Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society and the American Indian Center, and video by James Kaagegaabaw Vukelich.

Birchbark is best harvested in springtime, leaving evidence of its departure for the following seasons. This exhibition honors the indigenous practice of birchbark harvesting in the Great Lakes region, specifically by the Potawatomi and Ojibwe Nations in the Chicagoland area, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Nora Moore Lloyd creates artwork with a focus on indigenous cultures, nature, and documenting community and family history through traditional storytelling and photos. Her work has been exhibited at American Indian Center, Cahokia Mounds Museum, Chicago History Museum, Comanche National Museum, Field Museum, Mashantucket Pequot Museum, Museo Nacional de Etnografia y Folklore (Bolivia), Museo Nacional de Arqueologia y Ethnologia de Guatemala (Guatemala), State of Illinois Museum Gallery (Champaign, Chicago, Lockport, Springfield, IL), and elsewhere. For more information, please visit nativepics.org.

American Indian Center promotes fellowship among Indian people of all Tribes living in metropolitan Chicago and creates bonds of understanding and communication between Indians and non-Indians in this city. Today, the American Indian Center strives to be the primary cultural and community resource for nearly 65,000 American Indians in Chicagoland’s six-county region. American Indian Center seeks to foster physical and spiritual health in the community, an active connection with traditional values and practices, stronger families with multigenerational bonds, and a rising generation of educated, articulate, and visionary youth. For additional information, please visit aicchicago.org.

James Kaagegaabaw Vukelich is a leading voice in Native Language revitalization efforts. His insights on the interconnectedness of language and culture were developed in the field speaking with and recording elders and native speakers of the language in Canada, Michigan and Minnesota as part of the Ojibwe Language Dictionary Project. James shares his work on jamesvukelich.com – a website founded to help people learn about Native Culture and to teach Native Languages. For additional info, please visit jamesvukelich.com.

Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society collects, preserves and shares the story of the diverse community of Chicago’s far north side. Established on July 28, 1975 by local residents who believed their part of Chicago was a place with much to celebrate, the Society today serves the community through its publications, architectural tours, and various educational and outreach efforts. For additional information, please visit rpwrhs.org.

Roman Susan Art Foundation is a nonprofit art space and platform for exhibitions and events in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The mission of Roman Susan is to develop and support new opportunities to display, create, and experience art. For more information, please visit romansusan.org.

Nora Moore Lloyd: Birchbark, Wiigwaas
(The Beauty & History of Birch)
April 4, 2020 – May 30, 2020

Open Hours: Wednesdays and Saturdays 10AM – 4PM at Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society, 7363 N Greenview Ave
romansusan.org/birchbark-wiigwaas

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Tags: Birchbark Wiigwaas, COVID-19, Nora Moore Lloyd, Rogers Park, Rogers Park West Ridge Historical Society, Roman Susan