Culture Night, Culture Days

Next! This Thursday we co-sponsor the 13th annual Native American Cultural Celebration at Banning High School.

A special presentation of Sean Owen's film, "Sing Birds" will highlight the family event.

We congratulate film maker Sean Owen. "Sing Birds" was just nominated for best documentary feature at the American Indian Film Institute in San Francisco.

If you haven't seen this powerful film yet, the Banning High event is your chance.

The event also will feature:

Morongo Bird Singers & Dancers.

Gourd Rattles and Other Crafts.

Delicious Frybread and Other Foods.

Demos, Displays, Cultural Activities.

Details: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 19

Banning High School, 100 Westward, Banning

Sponsors: Banning Unified School District, Banning Unified Indian Education Program, Banning High/Nicolet School Indian Club; RSBCIHI Native Challenge Project, Dorothy Ramon Learning Center.

On Nov. 19 and 20 Dorothy Ramon Learning Center also is participating in and co-sponsoring Waat: A Celebration of First Cultures, at Crafton Hills Community College. This excellent program offers fun, hands-on education programs for the region's elementary students and their teachers.

Art and Humor on Nov. 16

By Gerald Clarke, Jr. for Dorothy Ramon Learning Center

Our next Dragonfly Lecture features Gerald Clarke Jr. of Cahuilla Reservation.

His art often explores what it means to be Cahuilla in the modern-day world.

Sometimes it's performance art, sometimes it's sculptures made from melted-down faucets, or paintings, or any medium you can think of (and some media you probably WON'T think of).

Gerald Clarke has been a practicing artist for close to 20 years. He has exhibited his art nationally and internationally.

In 1997, he was one of five Native artists chosen to exhibit at the Heard Museum's Seventh Invitational Exhibition.

In 2007, the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis awarded Gerald with a Native Artist Fellowship Award, and this year he was nominated for a Joan Mitchell Award. Gerald's work spans painting, sculpture, installation and performance.

In his own words he refers to his medium as "kitchen sink- anything and everything I can use to convey thoughts and feelings."

Gerald will discuss his development as an artist and his beliefs on how art can engage society.

Gerald also suggests that the audience be prepared for the unexpected!

DETAILS

6 p.m. Nov. 16

Dorothy Ramon Learning Center

17 W. Hays, Banning

Donations at the door help our Nonprofit save and share Southern California's Native American cultures, languages, history, and traditional arts.

Read more about Gerald Clarke's life here.