New Exhibit Opening At Lockport Gallery

LOCKPORT, IL — The Illinois State Museum - Lockport Gallery will open a new exhibition on Oct. 9, according to a news release from the museum.

The exhibition, "Dancing for Our Tribe: Potawatomi Tradition in the New Millennium” features 30 portraits by photographer Sharon Hoogstraten of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation.

The exhibition celebrates Potawatomi people dressed in dance regalia and explores regalia as a living tradition that reflects identity, cultural continuity and contemporary life, a news release shares.

Hoogstraten began the project in 2010 at the Family Reunion Festival in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Over more than a decade, she photographed members of all nine Potawatomi nations in traditional regalia, according to a news release.

The exhibition "demonstrates how regalia is more than a costume or historical artifact. It is a form of cultural expression that connects ancestral artistry with modern life, incorporating items such as sewing machines and synthetic fabrics, as well as stories about tattoos and military service," a news release shares.

A reception with Hoogstraten will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. on Oct. 17 at the gallery. The reception will feature Indigenous-inspired refreshments prepared by Jessica Walks First Pamonicutt, executive chef and owner of Ketapanen Kitchen, a Native American pop-up kitchen and catering company.

The exhibit will be on display through March 27, and is supported by the Illinois State Museum Society, City of Lockport and Main Street Lockport.

The Lockport Gallery is at 201 W. 10th St., in Lockport. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, Tuesday through Saturday.