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Contributing Artists - Highlights
Leonid Kozintsev, an imaginative, creative Russian artist who lives
in Normal , IL , has developed the murals on the inside plaza walls. In his
murals he painted many symbolic images including: Inipi, the sacred sweat lodge
ceremony; Tree of Life, that symbolizes the Sundance; River of Time; Sunrise
and the Sprout, that symbolize the rebirth of Native American spirituality;
and the Turtle and the Star, that symbolize the path of Humanity in the Universe.
Leonid believes that Native American spirituality has the importance equal to
the main religions of the world and represents an invaluable gift of Native
Americans to humanity.
Charley Armstrong, an art teacher in Galesburg
, IL , created The
Red Path Mural on the outside wall which can be seen from the
highway. Charley Armstrong, known locally
for being a key individual in the design of Peoria's Holocaust
Memorial (also known as the Button Project), painted the Red
Path mural on the north side of the building. This mural teaches
that the choices made today affect many generations to come.
Leon Gass is a former tank mechanic for the U.S. Army who resides
in East Peoria, Illinois. A self-taught artist, he has been an
active arts instructor for veterans at the Danville VA Medical
Center and for several other VSA arts of Illinois programs and
festivals. Gass' specialty is wood carving. " Each piece of wood
has a spirit that directs me in the shape and form to be carved," he
says. Gass' work can be found in his Peoria gallery and in various
collections throughout the United States.
Rebecca Gearhart's undergraduate focus on
Africa (Mount Holyoke College, 1989) was an interdisciplinary
one focused on African philosophy, dance, literature, and history
- primarily with regard to West Africa. In 1987 she traveled
to Kenya and Tanzania with the School for International Training
and developed strong ties to the Swahili communities along the
northern Kenya coast, and to the Swahili people of Lamu Island
in particular.
Professor Gearhart spent a year
of graduate study at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
(1993 - 1994), where she furthered her interest in using visual
media to study performance traditions known as "ngoma" (music
and dance), which later became the topic of her doctoral thesis
and several academic papers and publications.
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Academic
Outreach Image 2 -Over
120 German students and their host families came to have
an up close experience of Native American culture. A
men's traditional dancer is showing his regalia and rattle
to participants.
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| Academic Outresach - Image 3 - Butch McCamy answers questions about inipi, a sacred sweat lodge ceremony, for Northwestern Pre-Med students, who came to the center to learn Native American healing techniques. Speakers also explained the use of healing touch, healing stones, and the healing power of the drum. The drum is music therapy and used in prayer songs. |
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| Gathering
of Veterans Friendshop Pow Wow Image
4 - A
one-of-a-kind gathering for healing, restoration, and peace.
Honoring warriors is a strong tradition among Native American
people. The purpose of this nonpolitical Pow Wow has a
healing mission. Warriors and their families are honored.
Peace and wartime vets, those on active duty, all who stood
and still stand and are ready to defend, are honored. All
local veterans, of every military service and branch, and
their families are especially invited and encouraged to
attend. |
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Northern Style Drum
Class Image 5 - Waylon and Butch McCamy
lead the Spirit of the Rainbow Singers at a Winter
Gathering. |
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Paint a Dream Community
Based Mural Project Image 6, 7 and
8 -
Starting in June of 2004, murals and designs have been
painted on the outside walls of the center. Charley
Armstrong, Leonid Kozintsev, and numerous volunteers
came together to help paint a dream. The murals portray
lessons and give hope. Onlookers sense a quiet, peaceful
understanding of all people and tribes.
One of the major
goals of this effort is to turn the current facility
into a center, both beautiful and useful, where individuals
can learn about, share in, and enjoy the rich and complex
cultural heritage of the diverse cultures that have
been in the Peoria area, ranging from Native American
through European immigrant to today's culture. The
goal is to produce a mural visible from State Rt. 8
and a plaza area for festivals and pow wows.
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Thunder
in the Valley Images
9 - Rebecca
Gearhart, PhD., an associate professor of anthropology
at Illinois Wesleyan University , leads a group of
participants in African drumming.
The public is invited
to experience the power of the drum and the heartbeat
of the Earth. Drums of many cultures and faiths are
featured such as African, East Indian, Native American,
Buddhist, etc. All are welcome to bring a drum and
join in the drumming circle. The drum is sacred and
is given the highest respect by many cultures.
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Youth Group Images
10 - The youth
of the Native American Fellowship-Dayspring Church worked
very hard to raise money for a playground at Seven Circles
Heritage Center . The image reflects the happiness and pride,
of the children, in knowing they were successful in reaching
their goals. Seven Circles Heritage Foundation strives
to empower the children through youth activities at the
Center. We offer activities that teach our children
respect for the Earth and all peoples. Activities
include: knowledge of plants, dancing, singing, horsebackriding,
plays, and educational outings.
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Cultural Classes Image
11 - Leon Gass, leader of the Woodcarving Workshop at
Seven Circles Heritage Center , helps others to preserve
our cultural heritage and incorporate their own ideas.
Native American artists meld popular culture with their
historic cultural traditions and interpret the familiar
images that affect their lives. Many works show the Native
Americans' relationship to and shared respect of the
land and creatures. The workshop helps to enrich lives
and build communities through the arts. People of different
cultures attend the workshop.
Other classes include bead working, flute making, herbal
medicines, and Native languages and multi-cultural art.. |
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Emiquon - Image 12
- A Birth Healing Day was held on April 30,
2005 , to celebrate the restoration of more than 7,000
acres of farmland to a system of lakes and wetlands
along the Illinois River . The Nature Conservancy asked
Native Americans to bless the land with prayers, singing,
and dancing.
Split Image -On the left - Phyllis
Singingbird and her grandson
On the right - Kim Reese |
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Seven Circles Heritage Center
provides a healing environment for your workshops or events.
Various groups besides the Native
Americans have presented workshops and used the facilities.
University students and faculty from Bradley University
, Sangamon University , Illinois Wesleyan University, and
Northwestern Pre Med have come to explore the healing traditions,
art, music, philosophy, religious and spiritual perspectives
of indigenous cultures.
If you would like to reserve the Center for your presentation
contact our
staff for more information. |
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