In honor and celebration of Native American Heritage Month, the Notre Dame Initiative on Race and Resilience, in collaboration with its artist-in-residence, David Martin, hosted a Native American dance and drum performance in DeBartolo Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The program featured songs and dance styles of Potawatomi and other Great Lakes region tribes to share culture, celebrate heritage and strengthen connections between the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and Notre Dame. It was the first time in nearly 30 years that Notre Dame hosted a large Indigenous dance and drum event on campus.
Martin is a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and used his upbringing in a traditional Native family to influence his art. Proudly self-trained, he works in artistic mediums including oil painting, beadwork and tattoo art. During his residency, Martin plans to focus his artistic energy into depicting Pokagon scenes and people from the past with a unique eye toward the present and future of his people.
Martin is open to visit classes during the fall 2023 and spring 2024 semesters. He will also have open studio hours each week showcasing his beadworking (from 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays in Room 301, O’Shaughnessy Hall) and oil painting (from 2 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays in Room 204A, Riley Hall). Feel free to drop in and to check out his work and chat. Please reach out to Anna Haskins (ahaskins@nd.edu) with questions.
Additionally, Martin will be showing a variety of his oil paintings at the Corvilla Community Art Gallery now through Thursday, Dec. 28.
If you are interested in having Martin come speak to or work with your class, please fill out this request form.
