Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum Offers An Ensemble of Fall Cultural Programming

The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum located on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University is hosting a plethora of programs that tie into their latest special exhibition, “Vitality and Continuity: Art in the Experiences of Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Pueblo Women,” which will run through Saturday, January 9, 2024.

“Vitality and Continuity: Art in the Experiences of Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Pueblo Women” celebrates some of the critical roles Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Pueblo women fulfill in their families, their communities, the art world, and beyond. Rooted in contemporary and historical artworks, this traveling exhibition explores themes like mothering, making, art world success, spirituality, and continuity in visual culture across generations. Spotlight Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Pueblo women artists include: Kenojuak Ashevak (Inuit), Kelly Church (Gun Lake Band of Pottawatomi/Grand Traverse Ottawa/Chippewa descent), Maria Martinez (San Ildefonso), and many more.

Each month the Museum will focus on a specific culture and make connections to share through a variety of healing arts. For Hispanic Heritage Month that runs September 22 – October 15 there will be programs at the Museum as well as partnerships with others in the community including a special edition of Saginaw Art Jamboree on October 14th highlighting Hispanic artists along with the usual mix of local artists.

In November, for Native American Heritage Month, the Museum will host Anishinaabe artists and speakers including director of a new PBS documentary film. December activities will focus on holidays across cultures including the African American tradition of celebrating Kwanzaa.

“Our newest exhibition – “Vitality & Continuity” – really had us thinking about how we can improve cultural awareness to our community and what type of healing art resources we can gather. It has provided us with the opportunity to collaborate with wonderful cultural organizations and community members. Together, we can provide a great ensemble of programs for the community. I really look forward to the conversations that will come from this.,” says Erin Pilarski, Community Relations & Marketing Manager.

Some of the various cultural and healing arts programming for the community that are planned each month in correlation with this exhibition include:

OCTOBER 9th – Indigenous People’s Day Celebration

To kick start our series of cultural-based programs, the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, along with the City of Saginaw will be hosting an Indigenous People’s Day Celebration on Monday, October 9, in conjunction with National Indigenous People’s Day. This is a free event and open to the public. The celebration will begin at 10:30 AM on Ojibway Island in downtown Saginaw where a special unveiling of a new Native American Land Acknowledgment Marker will take place. Along with the land acknowledgment, the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinaabe Culture & Lifeways will be doing a Pow Wow song and dance presentation. From Noon to 2:00PM, all guests are invited back to the museum for a reception tying in with the museum’s newest exhibition: “Vitality and Continuity: Art in the Experiences of Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Pueblo Women”. Guests can enjoy the exhibition while tasting fry bread and other Native American inspired fare. Registration is requested but not required for the reception.  

“We are working with wonderful team of community partners to plan such an amazing collection of Cultural Programming for the public to experience this Fall. Our timing could not have been any better as we host the newest exhibition “Vitality and Continuity: Art in the Experiences of Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Pueblo Women” during a time where we celebrate three cultural heritage months – Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, and African American Heritage Month,” says Megan McAdow, Executive Director.  “I am proud to see how far the Indigenous People’s Day Celebration has come. I love seeing this event grow – not only in collaboration with the City of Saginaw, but with interest from the community partners.”

The Indigenous People’s Day Celebration will also kick off the “Great Michigan Read” program series by providing a book giveaway at each location in addition to a special announcement for the regional community. Visit us at www.marshallfredericks.org/great-michigan-read/ for a variety of “Great Michigan Read” programs hosted by the museum in collaboration with the three library systems of the Great Lakes Bay Region: Public Libraries of Saginaw, Bay County Library System, and Grace A. Dow Memorial Library of Midland County.

OCTOBER – Hispanic Heritage Month

For Hispanic Heritage Month, the Museum will be hosting the Saginaw Art Jamboree: Hispanic Heritage Month & Halloween Edition on Saturday, October 14, Noon – 5:00pm. The Jamboree will take place within the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum and Jo Anne and Donald Peterson Sculpture Garden. The event will highlight Hispanic culture with art, crafts, and décor along with the usual variety of local artists’ work throughout the Museum and Garden.

For a special activity, Jamboree attendees will have an opportunity to make and keep a sugar skull, in honor of upcoming Hispanic holiday Dia de los Muertos – Day of the Dead. If you are interested in becoming a vendor at the Saginaw Art Jamboree: Hispanic Heritage Month & Halloween Edition on October 14, please visit us online at: https://marshallfredericks.org/saginaw-art-jamboree/

The Museum will also be going on the road for Hispanic Heritage Month as we visit the Mexican American Cultural Center in downtown Saginaw! On October 20, from 4:00 – 6:00PM, Andrea Ondish, Education Curator from Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum and Alberto Jimenez from the Mexican American Council will be leading a free workshop on how to make sugar skulls and why they are made. This is in celebration of Dia de los Muertos – Day of the Dead. The Mexican Heritage Cultural Center is located at 1537 S. Washington St. in Saginaw. The Museum will also be participating in the annual Dia de los Muertos celebration at La Union Civica Mexicana in Saginaw on Wednesday, November 2 from 12:00-7:00 PM. Stop by the Museum’s booth and see sculptor John Martinez create larger than life sand sculptures fitting the holiday’s themes.

NOVEMBER – Native American Heritage Month

Wednesday, November 1, the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum will be hosting a free special Kick-Off Celebration for Native American Heritage Month. Attendees can view the new exhibition and enjoy a selection of Native American inspired fare from 4:30-6:00 PM. Following the Museum reception, two special presentations will take place from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the Rhea Miller Recital Hall, also on the campus of SVSU including a presentation by the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinaabe Culture & Lifeways and a special screening of the film: “Warrior Lawyers” with director Audrey Geyer. Advance registration for the Kick-Off Celebration is required. Attendees can RSVP by visiting the event website at: https://marshallfredericks.org/calendar/

The celebration of Native American Heritage Month continues on Saturday, November 11 with a Native American Healing Arts and Justice Circle led by Native American Justice Coalition. The healing circle, along with art activities provided by the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinaabe Culture & Lifeways, will take place from 1:00 – 4:00 PM and is free to the public.

Those interested in learning more about the event can reach out to the Museum’s education curator, Andrea Ondish, at ondish@svsu.edu.

For a full schedule of events and further details on our October through December programming, please visit us at: https://marshallfredericks.org/calendar/.

For any questions, please call 989-964-7125 or email mfsm@svsu.

Exhibition Credits: “Vitality and Continuity: Art in the Experiences of Anishinaabe, Inuit, and Pueblo Women” is organized by the Detroit Institute of Arts, Bonifas Arts Center, Dennos Museum Center, Midland Center for the Arts, and Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum. This exhibition is one in a series of American art exhibitions created through a multi-year; multi-institutional partnership formed by the Detroit Institute of Arts as part of the Art Bridges Initiative.This exhibition is on display at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum from September 22, 2023 through January 9, 2024.

The Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum is located on the campus of Saginaw Valley State University, 7400 Bay Road, University Center, MI. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (989) 964-7125 or visit the Museum’s website at www.marshallfredericks.org.