Pomo Project

Art in honor of our local Pomo people

As our fall 2010 rotation, Sebastopol Gallery presents work by several member artists participating in the Pomo Project. This show runs from September 19 through November 14.
The opening reception will be Saturday, October 2, 5-7 pm. We are also helping to organize related shows and events at other venues, and will list these below.

The Beginning

Last October our featured artist was Sandy Eastoak. One day a Pomo dancer and healer, Armando Williams, was walking by when his small daughter pulled him into the Gallery--"Look, Daddy, an Indian!" Sandy's new work offered experimental images of Native American history and spirituality. Armando was very moved to see these, and asked to collaborate on a project. Sterling Hoffmann was staffing the Gallery that day, and eagerly asked to join in. Other members quickly followed,
The idea was that Armando would teach us about Pomo medicine traditions, and trust us to produce art reflecting what we learned. He would introduce us to Pomo elders to deepen our experience.We voted to dedicate our October 2010 rotation to this art. Then other people in the community expressed enthusiasm, and began planning related events. In May the Sebastopol City Council passed a resolution declaring October to be Annual Pomo Honoring Month.
This painting, Sandy Eastoak's Thunder Woman & the Crescent Moon, celebrates the beginning of this project. Thunder Woman is the spirit of Native values re-emerging in the world. Here she stands among the tule--used by the Pomo for baskets, boats, clothing, and shelter. She reaches for the waxing crescent--a new opportunity for participating artists, our local Pomo people, all our townspeople, and visitors from many places.

Events

September 19-November 24: "Imagining the Pomo Way" at Sebastopol Gallery. Works by member artists, Edward Curtis photos, & Pomo guest artists. 150 North Main, 11am-6pm daily.

October 1- October 31: Portraits by Pomo artist Johnny Clay at Slice of Life. 6970 McKinley, 11am-9pm, Tue-Fri, 9am-9pm Sat-Sun, closed Mon.

October 1-November 30: Photographs by Christine Cobaugh at East-West Cafe, 128 North Main, 8am-9pm Mon-Sat, 8am-8pm Sun.

October 1-October 31: Art by Pomo youth at Sprint Copy Center, 175 North Main, 8:30am-6pm, Mon-Fri, closed Sat-Sun.

October 1 - October 31: Art by Sandy Eastoak at Peace in Medicine, 6771 Sebastopol Ave, Sebastopol. Mon-Sat 10:30-7, Sun 12-7.

October 2, Saturday, 5-7 pm. Artist Reception: Imagining the Pomo Way, Sebastopol Gallery, 150 North Main, with Albert Tenaya playing Native American flute.

October 3, 10, 17, 24, Sundays, 10 am - noon: Pomo History & Culture Booth at Farmers Market. Sebastopol Plaza at McKinley Street.

October 7, Thursday, 4-7 pm. Pomo Project Booth at Live on the Plaza! Business & Community Fair. Sebastopol Plaza at McKinley Street. Armando Williams & youth dancers at 5:30 pm.

October 7, Thursday, 7:30pm: Sandy Eastoak at Many Rivers Books & Tea: her process of making art for the Pomo Project. 130 South Main.

October 8, Friday, 6-7 pm. Reception for Sandy Eastoak at Peace in Medicine, 6771 Sebastopol Avenue, Sebastopol.

October 10, Sunday, Noon-1pm: SCIHP Native Youth Dancers at Farmers Market, led by Joe Salinas. Sebastopol Plaza at McKinley Street.

October 11. Tuesday, 11am-noon. Sandy Eastoak, Laura Shafer, & Armando Williams live KOWS interview, hosted by Ken Rose. Pod-cast at www.pantedmonkey.org.

October 14, Thursday, 7:30pm: Armando Williams, Pomo dancer and healer, at Many Rivers Books & Tea: Pomo medicine tradition and healing songs. Many Rivers Books & Tea, 130 South Main.

October 15, Friday, 7:30-10pm: Dance Benefit for the Pomo Project. Sweat Your Prayers, with Leslie King & Suzie Gruber, Youth Annex, 390 Morris Street.

October 17, Sunday, 11 am: Vana Lawson at Laguna Youth Park: California Native Plants Used by the Kashaya Pomo. Outdoor classroom amphitheater behind Community Center, 390 Morris Street.

October 17, 7 pm. Sandy Eastoak, Armando Williams, & Edward Willie, KRCB interview by Michele Jordan. 91.1 FM.

October 19, Tuesday, 7 pm. Vana Lawson at Peace in Medicine: Medicinal Plants Used by Kashaya Pomo. 6771 Sebastopol Ave, Sebastopol. Sonoma County Herbal Society meeting.

October 20, Wednesday, 7 pm: Hinth'el Gaahnula (Talking Indian) at French Garden Restaurant: A Narrative History of Clear Lake Pomo Through 1900, video produced by Big Valley Rancheria. 8050 Bodega Avenue.

October 22, Friday, 10:30 am: Presentation of Pomo Culture by Joe Salinas & Armando Williams, Brookhaven Middle School, 7095 Valentine Avenue.

October 26, Tuesday, 6:30 pm: Storyteller Georgia Churchill at Sebastopol Library: traditional Pomo stories. Robert Herzbrun on Native American flute. 7140 Bodega Avenue.

October 27, Wednesday, 7 pm. Kathleen Smith & Beverly Ortiz, Seaweed, Salmon and Manzanita Cider & It Will Live Forever, Copperfield's Books, 138 North Main.

October 29, Friday, 7 pm. Greg Sarris speaking on "An overview of local Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok cultural history, including a discussion of the lifestyles and associated social and religious systems that made for a ten thousand year sustainable relationship with this place. Focus will be on the villages in and around the Laguna de Santa Rosa and how the Laguna and associated water systems played an integral role in the social organization of the villages." Youth Annex, 390 Morris Street.

Participating Member Artists

Chris Boyd

Chris Boyd has long combined practical pottery techniques with reverence for nature. Recently she has added sculptural pieces, like these salmon. She looks forward to incorporating Pomo lore in new work. Often incorporating leaves in her designs, she will probably start with pepperwood, an important Pomo medicine.

Sandy Eastoak

Sandy Eastoak's exploration of our relationship to other species took an odd turn two summers ago. Cartoon-like animals and kachina spirits began showing up insistently, like illustrations to a mysterious story. Now the story takes on Pomo elements, including particular places and historical people. She is also working with direct and experimental images of Pomo life.

Sterling Hoffmann

Sterling Hoffmann's proficiency at plein air landscape makes him a natural choice to paint the roundhouses dedicated to Pomo ceremony and dance. Armando Williams has asked him to make this his special emphasis, which will take him to sacred locations in Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino Counties. The landscapes surrounding the roundhouses is part of their energy, and he will bring his perception and sensitivity to the task.

Bert Kaplan

Bert Kaplan has a long-standing interest in Native American spirituality, and looks forward to learning directly from Pomo elders. He will infuse this learning in his portrayal of the landscapes he already loves to paint, bringing a deeper understanding of the spirit and significance of local places.

Connie Robeson

Connie Robeson loves to work with primitive, earthy materials and symbols. She's excited about learning directly from people whose understanding of the land is ancient and intimate. The influences she encounters will be absorbed into the alchemy of her creative process, with the potential for surprising results.

Susan Saint Thomas

Susan Saint Thomas will bring her long and rich experience of working with dream imagery and spiritual tradition as she learns about Pomo culture and medicine ways. The Pomo have their particular ways of entering the deep territory where her images arise, and it will be wonderful to see what arises as she explores with them.

Teri Sloat

Teri Sloat has worked with Alaskan Native people, particularly around illustrating their traditional stories. Learning Pomo stories and legends offers rich opportunities for new imagery, and we look forward to seeing these arise. At the same time, her new excitement about landscape may produce rich interpretations of local places loved by the Pomo.

Other Artists & Presenters

Georgia Churchill

Johnny Clay

Johnny Clay is a native son of the Round Valley Pomo Tribe with a deep respect for our Native American fathers. His greatest hope is that our sons and daughters will ponder his portraits and see the integrity, endurance and pride of Pomo people.

Christine Cobaugh

Christine Cobaugh uses photography to carry her ideas, ranging from reflections in beautiful mountain lakes to explorations of oppression. Here she seeks to create images honoring Pomo life. She is also working at the Sonoma County Indian Health Project to empower Pomo youth to create their own photographic expressions.

Janey Hirsh

Janey Hirsh writes, directs, and produces plays, usually musical comedies probing serious questions. Her most recent plays were performed at the Graton Community Club--K-9 Caper and Native Spirits. Working with Pomo people on this project, she intends to write a play about their view of things, which will probably premiere at The Rep in October 2011.

Vana Lawson

Vana Dean Parrish Lawson, author of the book Kashaya Pomo Plants, is the daughter of Essie Parrish, the last Spiritual Leader and Historian of the Kashaya Pomo. Her background is Anthropology, Archeology, California Native American history. She had her own column in "The Worlds Oldest Motivational Homeless Newspaper, out of Staten Island, New York, as well as articles in Anthropological Journal, the Bodega Bugle, and Environmental Newspaper. A necklace, earring, and gourd designer, she is "the carrier of Kashaya history and my mother's religion and ways."

Rebecca Love

Rebecca Love creates life sculptures in clay, and will work with willing Pomo subjects--starting with Armando Williams--to create works that express their individual personalities and cultural heritage.

Greg Sarris

Laura Shafer

Laura Shafer is an environmental activist and photographer who specializes in images of laundry hung out to dry. She is coordinating educational events for this project.

Armando Williams

Armando Williams is a Pomo dancer, spiritual advisor, and massage therapist. He began learning the traditional dances and songs at age 6. He is currently studying with a traditional healer to be a bear doctor, as well as improving his massage skills at Eselan Institute. He originated our project and is our principal advisor.

More information about the project: www.pomo-honor.org.