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Burke Gallery’s ‘Visions from Mountains to Valley’ an Intimate Portrait of Mohawk People

fadden mohawk mosaic womanMohawk artist, illustrator and storyteller David Kanietakeron Fadden brings his intimate portrayals of the Mohawk people, traditional Haudenosaunee teachings and other concerns of indigenous communities to the Burke Gallery in the exhibit, “Visions from Mountains to Valley,” running now through May 15.

Fadden’s local roots run deep. A native of Lake Placid, he’s the son of retired Saranac art teacher John Fadden and potter and wood sculptor Eva, and grandson of Onchiota legend Ray Fadden, who founded the Six Nations Iroquois Cultural Center there. Today he and his brother maintain the space, welcoming visitors from around the world who walk away with a greater understanding of the Mohawk and Haudenosaunee culture.

His talents were cultivated as a teen. A graduate of Saranac Lake High School, he attended North Country Community College where he honed his skills as he continued to learn not just artistic techniques but also the stories told to him by parents and grandparents.

In addition to SUNY Plattsburgh, his works have been exhibited throughout the Northeast, including the Lake Placid Center for the Arts, Strand Center for the Arts in Plattsburgh, Albany, Montreal, National Museum of American Indian, and the Aboriginal Art Centre in Gatineau, Quebec.

fadden mohawk childWorking primarily in acrylics, his paintings “incorporate versatile painting techniques such as palette knife applications and find brushwork that capture the vibrancy of contemporary Indigenous identity,” according to his biographical background information. “This deliberate process serves to honor ancestors, dispel racial stereotypes, and emphasizes the contemporary Indigenous presence across the Americas.

“Visions from Mountains to Valley” includes 40 of Fadden’s acrylic works, including those praised for a mosaic technique he developed that when viewed from a distance looks like a portrait or other scene but when seen closer represents smaller images that resemble microscopic organisms, Indigenous and pop culture symbols.

Each of the Plattsburgh State Art Museum’s exhibits “serve as a springboard for interdisciplinary teaching that inspires students,” said Tonya Cribb, museum director. “We hope this exhibit will challenge them to learn more about the local indigenous populations and their place in the history of the nation.

fadden acrylicfadden mugshot“David’s paintings provide visitors with intimate portraits of the Mohawk people, as well as address environmental and political concerns of indigenous communities.  These carefully curated artworks serve as primary tools for exploring these complex ideas and challenging histories.  David’s work creates dialog, dispels stereotypes and reminds us that indigenous people are thriving, contemporary communities — not remnants of the past,” she said.

An opening reception held Feb. 7 included a talk by Fadden, who discussed his works. “Visions of Mountains and Valley” runs though May 15, Tuesday-Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. in the Burke Gallery, second floor of Myers Fine Arts Building. Other exhibits include:

  • “Beginnings: High School and Middle School Art Exhibition” in the Myers Lobby Gallery, featuring a selection of work from students in grades 6-12 in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties.
  • The Bachelor of Arts Senior Exhibit, April 7-May 16 in the Slatkin Gallery, Myers Fine Arts Building, an exhibition featuring work created by graduating Bachelor of Arts students at SUNY Plattsburgh. Opening reception is Friday, April 10 from 4 to 6 p.m.

For more information on these and other exhibits at the museums on campus, visit https://www.plattsburgh.edu/plattslife/arts/art-museum/museum-exhibitions.html.

— Story by Associate Director of Communications Gerianne Downs

— Photos Provided by the Plattsburgh State Art Museum

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