Obituary

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Fred Oscar Long (Muscogee Creek). Our condolences go out to his family and our thoughts are with you during this difficult time. More >>

4 New York City Native Artists Receive Fellowships in the Visual and Media Arts

$6,000 Awarded in the Third Cycle from the Urban Artist Initiative/NYC to Native American artists

(New York, NY – March 3, 2010) The Urban Artist Initiative/NYC (UAI/NYC), a consortium effort to strengthen the infrastructure and support for artists of color in New York City, announced the 34 New York artists who received UAI/NYC Fellowships this year. With this third grants cycle of the Initiative, 4 Native American artists in four disciplines have received direct support from this program.

The UAI/NYC consortium includes Amerinda, Inc., the Asian American Arts Alliance, Harlem Arts Alliance, the Latino Artists Initiative sponsored by the Bronx Council on the Arts, the Queens Council on the Arts, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, working in partnership with the New York Foundation for the Arts and the Bronx Council on the Arts, the project’s general sponsor.

Director of AMERINDA, Inc, UAI Consortium member, Diane Fraher said, “It is with great pleasure that we facilitate the award of artists fellowships in acknowledging and recognizing the merit of contemporary Native American arts in New York City. We congratulate the winners and thank all the talented artists who applied.”

of Interest

Monetizing Emma by Felipe Ossa is one of six shows mentioned in the New Yorker about the fringe. That's from nearly 200 works put up by the fringe this year. Congrats to Dawn Jamieson and company. For tickets visit www.FringeNYC.org.
For play info, visit www.thackeraywalsh.com. More >>

Congratulations to Spiderwoman Theater -Lisa Mayo, Gloria Miguel, Muriel Miguel (Kuna / Rappahannock) who was honored with the Lifetime Achievment in the Arts Award by the Women's Caucus for Art. The 2010 Honor Awards took place Saturday February 13th 2010 at the Chicago Cultural Center. Essay by Tonya Gonnella Frichner (Onondaga Nation - Snipe Clan). Presentation by Murielle Borst (Kuna / Rappahannock). More >>

Ernie Paniccioli and hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa launch Liverpool Sound City. Sound City kicked off in impressive style with a night of entertainment from two of the biggest names in hip hop. American photographer and author of hip hop culture Ernie Paniccioli and hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa curated the night, starting off with the UK premiere of The Other Side of Hip Hop: The Sixth Element, a film which documents the life, art, politics and works of Ernie, and which also stars Afrika, Chuck D, Flava Flav, MC Lyte and Russell Simmons. Afterwards, the pair hosted a question and answer session, before Afrika ended the night with a DJ set at The Masque on Seel Street – his first in Liverpool for 15 years. "It's been an amazing night," said Festival Director Dave Pichilingi. "Afrika and Ernie have been fantastic. The Q&A was really interesting, raising debates about hop hop's role nowadays and looking at why gangster rap isn't representative of what's going on in the rest of the scene." The event proved to be so popular that dozens of people were turned away at the door. "It was a lock out," explained Dave. "We had more people than we could ever have expected. Everyone was vocal in the debate afterwards too. It was great for us to see how passionate people were about the music industry." But the event almost didn't happen – both artists had been stuck overseas and up until flight restrictions were lifted, there were concerns that the opening night would have to be cancelled. "It wasn't just the opening night," said Dave. "We've got 400 bands playing, hundreds of conference speakers and delegates, a massive group of people, many coming from around the world. We've been so lucky that the ash cloud lifted. I think there's someone somewhere looking after us."

Edmond OK, Grace Wiley Smith (Muscogee Creek Nation) a teacher at Boulevard Academy has won the Oklahoma Indian Elder of the Year award. Smith received the award December 8th 2009 from the Oklahoma Council on Indian Education at an honoring in Midwest City. Daughter, Andrea Lee Smith, a well educated and determined NY artist working with AMERINDA, gave a bright smile and was quote "very proud" of mom. Congratulations! More >>

NAAR Artist and Painter David Bunn-Martine (Shinnecock/Montauk/Chiricahua Apache) has a featured column in the latest issue of Fine Art magazine (Fall 2009). Martine, known for his elaborate murals and historical representation, is the Director of the Shinnecock Nation Cultural Center and Museum. More >>

Congratulations to United States Artists 2009 fellows Delores Lewis Garcia and Emma Lewis Mitchell (Acoma Pueblo) of New Mexico. Recipients of the USA Gift of Art Fellows for Crafts and Traditional Arts. Delores Lewis Garcia and Emma Lewis Mitchell are the daughters of renowned Acoma pueblo potter Lucy M. Lewis, from whom they learned their craft. The sisters work together and are committed to producing and teaching traditional, hand-built pottery. They retain authentic Acoma patterns and techniques and gather their own natural pigments and clays from the pueblo. More >>

Crow tribal historian Joe Medicine Crow received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, at the White House on August 12, 2009. The annual award was created after WWII by President Truman who wanted to honor civilian service during the war. Joe Medicine Crow who served in WWII and is the last traditional Crow War Chief told the president that he was "highly honored." More >>

Monetizing Emma was nominated for Best Production and Best Ensemble in Planet Connections Festival. Produced by Thackeray Walsh, LLC Benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. Written by Felipe Ossa and Directed by Leah Bonvissuto. Stage Manager: Teresa-Violet Cajigas. Assistant Director: Shauna Horn. Scenic Design: Jasmine Vogue Pai. Lighting Design: Lauren Parrish. Costume Design: Mira Veikley. Performed by: James Arden, Dawn Jamieson, Janice Mann, Daniella Rabbani, Tovah Rose, and Nitya Vidyasagar. Awards Presented August 2nd 2009 in NYC. - planetconnectionsfestivity.com More >>

Congratulations to David Bunn Martine, selected for the centerfold of UNITY. Thompson Hospitality has selected three American Indian Artists, Phillip John Aarnaquq Charette (Yup’ik), Carmen Hathaway (Abenaki), and David Bunn Martine (Shinnecock/Montauk, Chiricahua Apache) whose works will be featured in the Centerfold of UNITY, from Picture That LLC promoting cultural awareness and diversity through the arts. More >>

On January 22, 2008 an honoring was held for Tonya Gonnella Frichner (Snipe Clan-Onondaga Nation) North American Regional Representative to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2008 - 2011. Tonya is President and founder of the American Indian Law Alliance in New York, a lawyer and activist, whose academic and professional life has been devoted to the pursuit of human rights for Indigenous peoples.

For the month of November 2006, Amerinda was featured on WNYC’s Salute The Arts, or STAR. Mentions could be heard on 93.9 FM and AM 820. WNYC's Salute The Arts Initiative is a free program that profiles 36 small, cultural, non-profit organizations in the New York Metropolitan area over a 12-month period, through on-air promotional announcements and free website support. www.wnyc.org More>>

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