EVANSTON, Ill. – Seven contemporary Native American artists from the Great Lakes region will unveil interpretations of the revered principles known as The Seven Grandfather Teachings in an exhibit on view Sept. 20 to Dec. 30, at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, 3001 Central St., Evanston, Ill.

“7 Artists, 7 Teachings: Contemporary Great Lakes Native Art” is a group exhibition that explores the themes of truth, respect, love, bravery, honesty, humility and wisdom that are central to the ethos and worldview of the Anishinabe tribes of the Upper Midwest – the Chippewa (Ojibway), Ottawa and Potawatomi, also known as the Council of the Three Fires.

Each artist will exhibit a work based on one of the teachings, plus other pieces produced in 2009.

The exhibit is organized by the Mitchell Museum and curated by participating artist Kelly Church.

The exhibition artists and their tribal affiliations, artistic media, and assigned teachings are as follows:

• Shirley Brauker (Little River Band Ottawa); pottery; honesty.

• Kelly Church (Grand Traverse Band Ottawa and Chippewa), black ash baskets, birch-bark bitings, paintings; humility.

• Dennis Esquivel (Grand Traverse Band Ottawa and Chippewa), woodwork and paintings; respect.

• John Fox (Pokagon Band Potawatomi), paintings; bravery.

• Martha Grandolf (Ho-Chunk), loom weavings; truth.

• Yvonne Walker Keshik (Little Traverse Band Odawa), porcupine quill boxes; wisdom.

• Cherish Parrish (Gun Lake Band Potawatomi), black ash baskets; love.

Each artist will plumb his or her personal experiences and reflections in depicting a Grandfather Teaching.

Native tradition holds that the seven teachings, which foster social harmony and engender respect for the interdependence of all living things, are gifts bestowed on mankind at the behest of the Creator by powerful spiritual beings called The Seven Grandfathers.

Admission to “7 Artists, 7 Teachings” is included with museum admission, which is $5 for adults; $2.50 for children, students, teachers (with valid school ID), and seniors; $10 maximum per family group. Admission is free on the first Friday of every month. Mitchell Museum members are admitted free at all times. For information, phone (847) 475-1030, Web site: www.mitchellmuseum.org.