Sacred Arts Research Foundation invites you to an exhibition of paintings and sound bath with Northern Cheyenne (Tsitsistas) and Lakota Artist Christopher Rowland. Included in the weekend festivities are an exhibition OPENING featuring a full vegetarian dinner and A Shamanic Sound Journey with Christopher Rowland and Dream Seed.
“My intention as an artist has always been to convey a reality found in the illusion. The challenge for me is to ‘see’ how colors induce emotion within the human spirit, and to bring that to my canvas for the viewer. I believe that music is the reformed spirit of the soul; it must intercede within the realm of graphic interpretation, and is therefore a very important part of my creative process. I am quick to see that I am only a student in this veritable plane of inspiration, a child from the BEGINNING.” – Christopher Rowland
Schedule
Friday June 5, 7-9pm · Exhibition Opening (FREE entry) · Talk by the artist on the artistic process · Vegetarian dinner available for purchase
Saturday, June 6, 7:30-9:30pm · Dream Seed: A Shamanic Sound Journey featuring Christopher Rowland · Cost $20
Sunday, June 7, 1-3pm · Open Gallery · Exhibit Closing
Artist Bio
Christopher James Rowland is a painter and musician born “Ma'heonehoo'estse” (Man from Holy Place), and was raised on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, at Lame Deer, Montana. His family heritage is Northern Cheyenne (Tsitsistas) and Lakota.
Christopher began his commercial oil painting career at the age of 15.
In 1987, the young artist appeared as "White Cloud," a vision character, in his first feature film, "Pow Wow Highway." The film won Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Actor awards from the Native American Film Festival. Christopher made additional artistic contributions to the film by painting the film’s classic car prop, Philbert's War Pony, "The Protector."
His artwork mentors have included Jack Hines and Jessica Zemsky; Neil Parsons, a Blackfoot Indian, abstract artist, and professor of fine art; and the world-renowned Howard Terpning. In 2006, Christopher was appointed Cultural Ambassador for the Northern Cheyenne Nation. He served in that post for two years.
Christopher's list of notable public and private collectors include many renowned individuals, such as former Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer. His sculptures and mural displays are also in public locations such as the Bronx Zoo, the Montana State Historical Society Museum, and the Crow Indian Agency Hospital.
One of Christopher's riveting large-scale works, “The Butterfly Dancer," widely recognized as a superb rendition of the Pink Shawl Dancer tradition, was utilized by the American Indian Women’s Health Coalition Breast and Cervical Health program, which commemorated the work in their health awareness campaign posters.
Christopher has enjoyed further recognition in countless magazines and publications such as the Montana Tribal Relations Report, “The Art of Cooperation," and has appeared on the cover of Indian Gaming Magazine, as well.
Christopher has been playing and composing with the Native American flute for 15 years. His meditative sounds are sought out by seasoned and professional musicians throughout the world. Overall, his music and compositions bring to life visions of creation, renewal and peace. As a longtime touring native flute player, Christopher has recorded an album entitled, “Blue Warrior: Dreams May Come.”
More recently, Christopher established a non-profit foundation, American Tribes Project, to help educate and care for underprivileged Native Youth from all American Tribes.
While Hiking in the mountains of Virginia, Christopher was bitten by a tick and contracted Lyme Disease. He became gravely ill. While recovering, he was introduced to many healers and ceremonial people from different parts of the country who helped him heal and come back into his body. It was at this time that he started having visions on the nature of light. He now incorporates this knowledge into his series, which he has set aside for careful study and work.
Christopher is currently continuing his work on a body of work he refers to as the "Vision of Light" series, which was inspired in part by his illness and recovery.
