Earth, Sky, Water: Community Building in Light of COVID 19
Beginning in July, the Little Eagle Arts Foundation (LEAF) will coordinate the creation of a community-inspired clay tile mosaic mural that will be installed along the Great Sauk State Trail. The mural will consist of three sections - Earth, Sky, and Water, and will speak to Ho-Chunk history and lifeways. The public art installation also honors land surrounding the trail.
Little Eagle Arts Foundation (LEAF), a Native-led non-profit arts organization in Wisconsin Dells, WI., founded by Hocak (Ho-Chunk) tribal member Melanie Tallmadge-Sainz in 2013, serves to advance the interests of Native American artists.
LEAF Director Melanie Tallmadge-Sainz, Visiting Artist in Residence Muneer Bahauddeen, and Project Apprentice Martina Patterson will work with Ho-Chunk families that reside in Sauk County and the surrounding areas, to create the tiles for the mural during the week of August 3 - 7. The mural will be officially shared with the public during the Fermentation Fest DTour, October 3rd and 4th. Details and more info at littleeagleartsfoundation.com.
While LEAF had to cancel many of its other public programs this season, a grant from the Sauk County Arts and Culture Committee is making it possible to purchase the personal protective equipment necessary to conduct these small group sessions.
LEAF’s pop-up studio at Maa Wakacak (Ho-Chunk language meaning Sacred Land/formerly called Badger Ordnance property located in Sauk County) will reflect safe distancing to include the use of masks and sanitizing supplies.
This project was made possible through a donation from the Ho-Chunk Nation to the Friends of the Great Sauk State Trail with additional funds provided by the Sauk County Extension, Arts, and Culture Committee, and the Wisconsin Arts Board. This project has been organized in collaboration with River Arts Inc.
For a more in-depth read about the Little Eagle Arts Foundation, view the article “Ho-Chunks share traditional ways at Farm Aid 2019” on DriftlessNow.com.
For questions or additional information on this project and/or LEAF, please contact Melanie Tallmadge- Sainz, LEAF Director, at 608-253-4142, or via email at littleeaglearts@gmail.com.
