My apologies for the late reply. I was out of town last week.
The exhibit was nice, but small. It was on the second floor of the Galveston Arts Center. All of the photographs were in one small room. You can see the photographs and read the captions in less than forty-five minutes. The exhibit was twenty-five high quality photographs. No audio tour or narrator to accompany the walking tour. The twenty-five photographs consisted of a drum major, cheerleaders, the Indianettes, the Geronimo statute, PN-G football players entering the field during Mid-County Madness, fans in the stands at Mid-County Madness, students attending Mid-County Madness, fans attending a PN-G pep rally, fans attending a parade, an adult fan dressed up in Native American clothing, and children dressed in purple and white as cheerleaders, Indianettes, and the Indian Spirit. There were no pictures of the actual Indian Spirit, the Marching I, or the seal of approval given to PN-GISD by the Cherokee Nation. The captions described the pictures. All of the pictures were taken in 2019. Not much information in written format to educate others about the traditions of PN-G, how the PN-G students and alumni honor the Native American heritage, and nothing there about the generations of students that have passed through PN-G to uphold and build upon the core values of Honor, Pride, and Tradition. The artist did a great job of taking high quality pictures and perhaps she has a perspective that I am missing. I am not knocking the artist or her exhibit. I am thankful that she chose PN-G to use as a subject for her expressions of art. The artist did NOT disrespect PN-G. Not at all. She had nice photographs and she captured a small part of PN-G's special spirit. She did her part to...PASS IT ON. Golf clap, tip of the cap, and thanks to the artist.
Parking in and around The Strand varies from $5 - $20. No admission fee. The Galveston Arts Center is free; it relies upon donations from visitors and the support of several foundations and philanthropists. There are several exhibits in the building. They are small exhibits, but well done. The Galveston Arts Center is open from noon to 5:00 p.m. Not much foot traffic in the building when my wife and I visited the exhibit. There is a comment book on the first floor. Anyone can write in the book about any of the exhibits. I flipped through the book and saw a few nice comments about the PN-G exhibit and a few negative comments, e.g., mascot controversy, cultural appropriation by a predominately white school district, the mascot does a silly dance, the community is full of Cajuns and rednecks. I wrote in the comment book that I was a proud alumnus of PN-G, the exhibit was nice, that PN-G has a 100 year history of excellence, and that the students, teachers, ISD, and alumni of PN-G fiercely and proudly defend our core values of Honor, Pride, and Tradition.
Overall, I give the exhibit a grade of A. If you are in Galveston, take an hour of your time and go visit the exhibit.
Go Indians. Peace.
m.beaumontenterprise.com
