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Renowned Coast Salish Carver Felix Solomon to Lecture at SIUE

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will celebrate Native American Heritage Month during November by hosting Felix Solomon, an active member of the Lummi Nation, one of the Coast Salish tribes of northwest Washington.

The public is invited to an evening of song and art with Solomon on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m., in SIUE’s Center for Spirituality and Sustainability. He is one of the most significant indigenous carvers in the U.S., because he is one of the only master carvers worldwide who carries forward the ancestral carving tradition of the American Coast Salish.

“Mr. Solomon will present an illustrated discussion of his artworks, including totem poles, ceremonial masks and other spiritually empowered wood carvings from the Northwest Coast,” said Dr. Julie Zimmermann Holt, professor in the department of anthropology within SIUE’s College of Arts and Sciences and coordinator of the Native American Studies program. “He will address the mission of his life work as a cultural conservator and teacher who aims to preserve the works and approaches of his forbearers, while mentoring younger carvers to perpetuate a tribal tradition that can still reflect current themes while remaining rooted in ancestral styles.”

During his visit to SIUE, Solomon will give presentations to several classes in Native American Studies, anthropology, and art and design. Working hands-on with students, faculty and staff, he will also share his insight on Northwest Coast artifacts in SIUE’s University Museum.

Solomon was the featured artist at the Smithsonian Institution’s 2012 American Indian Living Earth Festival. He is a collaborator of SIUE Professor of Philosophy Gregory Fields on the recently published book “A Totem Pole History” (University of Nebraska Press, 2013).

SIUE’s Native American Studies program is an interdisciplinary minor featuring courses contributed by the Departments of Anthropology, Historical Studies, Philosophy and Political Science. A major goal is to bring Native American speakers and artists like Solomon to campus.

Solomon’s visit is funded by the Native American Studies contributing departments, the College of Arts and Sciences, the SIUE Alumni Association, SIUE’s Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration.

For information about Solomon’s public lecture, call 618-650-3246.

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