Akwesasne Cultural Center

Seskeha 2009 Artist of the Month

Kit Thomas

I am a Charlotte,NC based self taught painter.I’m a punk rock, modern full-blooded Iroquois of the St.Regis Mohawk tribe.I’ve also resided in Canada,NY, NJ, TN, & SC. I began drawing & cartooning as a kid and then began exploring more of my talent in high school. I dabbled in oil, acrylic, oil pastel, pencil and ink and pencil crayon mediums but my favorite was native american design/tattoo with ink & pen. In college, I gained an interest in surrealism. I began exploring my darker, quirkier side with odd ambiguous paintings. I wanted to create strange, playful, slightly unsettling images. Today, this imagery was a fusion of cartoon, surreal, symbolic and abstract art styles that I have gained respect for west coast artists. I stumbled across a unique style in the process. Excited about my new work, I hope to show the world and sell some in the process.

What kind of art are you doing now? more modern, contemporary, abstract and street.

How does Akwesasne influence (or has influenced in the past) your art? It’s really how I started getting noticed back in high school.I did alot of sketches of wolves and eagles for my friends and family. I do work that will reflect on my childhood living in Akwesasne. Memories painted in, for example, in “umbrella” the numbers 13655 on top. For those who understand, it’s the zip code for my hometown.

Where would you like to see your art go (or your art take you) in the future? The possibilities are endless. I wanna show in galleries. I am hoping my art will let me travel to new places and my life will be amazing and comfortable.

My contact information is: 704 713 2581 kitthomasart@yahool.com 

Ohiarihko:wa 2009 Artist of the Month

Sue Kwanerataienni Herne

Mohawk/Bear Clan

Sue is an employee here at the cultural center, working in the museum since 1995. She presently has a few objects on loan to the museum, part of a temporary exhibit of employee artwork including basketry, beadwork, and the cradleboard shown below. The board was made by Christopher Thompson, and the painting on the back is by Sue.

During a three-year partnership between the Akwesasne Cultural Center, Salmon River Central School, and St. Lawrence University, she co-curated ’In the Footsteps of Our Ancestors’ at the Richard Brush Gallery of St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY with Katsitsionni Fox, an artist who teaches at the Salmon River Central School. The exhibition included two installations by Sue, one that included the following collage.

Her first installation was part of the exhibition “What are We Leaving for the Next Seven Generations? Seven Haudenosaunee Voices” shown at the Gibson Gallery of SUNY Potsdam and at the Iroquois Indian Museum, Howe’s Cave, NY. The installation “Mohawk Samsonite” included the cradleboard, made for her sons, and various other items related to seven generations of her family, past, present and future.

Sue has a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, and graduated from high school at the Institute of American Indian Arts. Her philosophy has been Art is Life and Life is Art. Although she hasn’t had time to make many paintings in recent years, she has continued to create in other ways and looks forward to continuing to explore the creative process as a celebration of life. 

Ohiari:ha 2009 Artist of the Month

Charlotte Kiokiokwinon King

Charlotte King recently took first place in the oil painting category of the Massena Artist Association’s 2009 annual juried show.

Charlotte King’s first memory related to her art goes back to the fourth grade when her drawing wasn’t chosen as “Best Picture” by the nuns in St. Regis. Charlotte felt the sting of not being chosen, but also gained a sense of her own art’s worth that has stayed with her throughout her life. In high school she did an exceptional watercolor and was encouraged by her teacher, Mr. Haywood, to study further. She enrolled in Sheridan College, Oakville Ontario and finished her fine arts degree at St. Lawrence College, Cornwall, Ontario. 

Charlotte’s artwork was put aside once she was married. She had five children and was a stay at home mom for 20 years; then in 1991 she began to paint again. In 1992, Salli Benedict invited her to show her work in ‘Art Mohawk 92′ in Montreal. Her work was shown in Pointe Claire soon after that, and a piece was commissioned for a traveling exhibit. Just as Charlotte’s work was beginning to flourish, the death of a son left her without any will to paint. After her marriage broke up she sought employable skills out of necessity and once again found her passion for painting. She has gone back to school for art at both SUNY Postdam and the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA). While at IAIA, she won first place at the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC). Charlotte presently holds a day job and works on her paintings at night, often staying up until 2 am, when her youngest daughter says, “Mom, you have to go to bed!”

The subjects in Charlotte’s paintings are related to Native identity and a close tie to the land. Charlotte is from the Kanatakon district of Akwesasne, also known as St. Regis Village; along the shore of the St. Lawrence River. Her landscapes include the river and also reflect her time in New Mexico at IAIA. She doesn’t limit her use of Native symbolism to her own, Mohawk, culture. Charlotte also feels strongly that there is a common bond among indigenous people across this hemisphere. She seeks to bring her subjects to life with the use of color, helping the viewer and herself to appreciate the things in life that she cherishes and that fill her with wonder. 

Onerahtohko:wa 2009 Artist of the Month

Marlana Thompson

Marlana started beading and sewing at age 6. She started out beading and sewing for herself, then began to make traditional outfits for others. This grew into a business, ‘Okwa:ho Creations’, in 1996. Okwa:ho means wolf in the Mohawk language, and Marlana is wolf clan.

Marlana makes all styles of powwow regalia, as well as ribbon shirts and dresses for traditional use. She also makes contemporary designs, including evening wear. Marlana is pictured, below, with the Nation’s Top Models in 2008, all wearing her designs.

Marlana has clothing and accesories on hand in her shop and is happy to fill custom orders. “I love being able to do this; it gives the opportunity to create things that reflect the spirit of a proud nation.”

check out Marlana’s shop at http://marlanathompson.com/

or contact her at: