Creating Fine Art On Stage: Native American Artist to Paint at Aurora University Jan. 30

AURORA, Ill.-Bunky Echo-Hawk, a Pawnee/Yakama Native American painter, will create an artwork at Aurora University on Wednesday, Jan. 30.

The public is invited to acrylic painting demonstrations at 10:40 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. in Perry Theatre in the Aurora Foundation Center for Community Enrichment at 1305 Kenilworth Place in Aurora.

To a backdrop of poetry, recorded music, and images of his prior paintings projected on a screen, Echo-Hawk will create a painting on stage in the theatre.

The completed piece will be added to "Weapons of Mass Media," an exhibit by Echo-Hawk at AU's Schingoethe Center for Native American Cultures in Dunham Hall at 1400 Marseillaise Place in Aurora.

"Weapons" runs Jan. 31-April 25. A public opening reception for the artist is from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Jan. 31 at the center.

The exhibit is part of AU's 2007-2008 Celebrating Arts and Ideas series. Arts and Ideas Series sponsors are: MetLife and Nicor, Gold sponsors; Harris Aurora and Human Resource Management Systems, LLC, Silver sponsors; City of Aurora and Sikich, Bronze sponsors. Media support is provided by The Beacon News and Comcast.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Meg Bero, center executive director, said, "Weapons of Mass Media is a dynamic look into contemporary Native American culture.  The series of paintings exemplify the absence and misrepresentation of Native Americans in mass media. 

"Pop culture icons are juxtaposed with Native icons in a humorous and honest way, which allows for recognition of recent history, political and social attitudes that the mainstream subdues," Bero said.

Echo-Hawk, of Longmont, Colo., is a multi-talented artist whose work spans both media and lifestyle. A graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts, he is a fine artist, graphic designer, photographer, writer and a traditional singer and dancer.

Echo-Hawk's work is bold and contemporary. Like many young Native Americans, he is exploring ideas of identity-what does it mean to be Native American in the 21st century. He said, "It is my goal to truly exemplify the current state of Native America."

Echo-Hawk's painting is an extension of his writing. Dealing with issues of stereotypes, he contrasts icons of popular culture with traditional ideas and romanticized images of Native Americans through visual references to 19th century portrayals. 

In the Weapons of Mass Media show, Native Americans in "traditional" clothing are incongruously placed with television icons as Echo-Hawk juxtaposes important people and events in Native America to the TV shows of the same era. The contrast is arresting. 

Meg Bero, exhibit curator and Schingoethe Center executive director, said,"Bunky draws us in with humor and intrigue, then hits us between the eyes with our own concepts of American Indians."

Call (630) 844-5344 for information.

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