NIGA Continues Support for Art Exhibit

The National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) announced its continued financial support of Artrain USA's national touring art exhibition Native Views: Influences of Modern Culture. This contemporary Native American exhibition is touring coast to coast through December 2007 and will reach more than 100 communities nationwide. Artrain USA recently completed its 2005 schedule traveling to states in the Northeast, including New York and the Washington DC area. In 2006, Artrain USA will focus on the West Coast and Alaska, and in 2007, it will visit Florida and the central states.

"This tour is very important because it reaches audiences who may never go to a museum or visit an exhibition," said NIGA Chairman Ernest Stevens, Jr. "NIGA is honored to provide financial support to this project and encourages tribes throughout the nation to do the same. Indian people have always used art as a means of cultural and individual expression. It is through exhibitions like Native Views that Native and non-Natives alike may gain a deeper understanding of our society and ourselves."

The Gila River Indian Community of Arizona is the first Tribal nation to respond to NIGA's challenge, and made a $2,500 donation.

"Artrain USA is making an impact on Indian Country and it should be supported," said NIGA Executive Director Mark Van Norman. "We feel it is important to present the Native American point of view in art, and Native Views is an excellent exhibition."

Through the Native Views national tour, Artrain USA is working with Tribes, Native American organizations and communities, arts groups, museums, libraries and a host of others to develop cross-cultural collaborations involving diverse populations. These collaborations have long-term positive benefits for the partnering organizations and their communities. Artrain USA expects to welcome 100,000 visitors in 50 Native and non-Native communities over the remaining two years of the four-year project.

Native Views: Influences of Modern Culture displays more than 70 contemporary artworks by 54 living Native American artists from over 45 Native American Nations. Guest curator, Joanna Bigfeather (Western Cherokee and Mescalero Apace) redefines Native art by broadening the limits and confronting the stereotypes that currently define it. Visitors discover the richness, complexity and breadth of contemporary Native American art while examining varying perspectives on society. Among the artists are Kay Walkingstick (Cherokee), James Lavadour (Walla Walla/Umatilla), Gail Tremblay (Onondadga/Micmac), Harry Fonseca (Nisenan-Maidu), and Roxanne Swentzell (Santa Clara Pueblo).

Artrain USA's is a nonprofit arts organization headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Its mission is to enrich lives and build communities through the arts. An art museum housed in vintage rail cars that travels via the nation's railways, Artrain USA brings world class art exhibitions and art education programs to communities and their residents. Artrain USA delivers exceptional opportunities for learning, growth and art appreciation while encouraging the development of local cultural programs and organizations. Since its inception in 1971, has welcomed more than 3 million visitors during 800 community visits.

NIGA, established in 1985, is a non-profit organization of 168 Indian Nations with other non-voting associate members representing organizations, tribes and businesses engaged in tribal gaming enterprises from around the country. The common commitment and purpose of NIGA is to advance the lives of Indian peoples economically, socially and politically. NIGA operates as a clearinghouse and an educational, legislative and public policy resource for tribes, policymakers and the public on Indian gaming issues and tribal community development.

The Gila River Indian Community is an alliance of two tribes, the Akimel O'odham (Pima) and the Pee Posh (Maricopa); it is the Indian Community in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area. With a population over 19,000 members the goal of the Community is to provide quality services to residents living in each of its seven districts and continue to develop economic diversity to build a strong future for the Community through cultural projects such as Artrain USA.