Old Courthouse Museum Spring Meeting and Talk

Ernest Siva, founder of the Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, was the featured speaker at the spring meeting of the Old Courthouse Museum Society on March 18. Mr. Siva spoke of the challenges and joys of conserving Southern California American Indian culture, particularly the language, songs and dance of the Serrano and Cahuilla peoples. Of partcicular interest to Mr. Siva are the so-called Big Horn Sheep songs, two of which he performed during his presentation.

Luncheon Lecture Planned for March 18

Ernest Silva, a noted figure in the conservation of Native California culture, is the featured speaker of the spring luncheon meeting of the Old Courthouse Museum Society on March 18. Mr. Silva is the founder of the Dorothy Ramon Learning Center in Banning, which works to conserve Cahuilla language and music tradtions. The title of his talk is "Why Indians Sing and Dance."

The public is cordially invited to attend this event, which takes place at the Old Courthouse Museum on Wednesday, March 18 at 11:45 a.m. To make luncheon reservations, please contact John Sorenson at 949-559-5668.

Family Open House at the Old Courthouse

Opening Event for Sing Me Your Story

At the opening event for Sing Me Your St0ry on February 13 artist Gerald Clarke and film maker Sean Owen screened the docmentary Borderlands. Gerald and Sean fielded questions from audience members following the screening.

Exhibit Opening Event on February 13

Sing Me Your Story, Dance Me Home formally opens with a program featuring Sean Owens' film Borderlands about Cahuilla artist Gerald Clarke on Friday, February 13, 2009, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Borderlands is a documentary about Clarke's return to the Cahuilla reservation following the death of his father. The film has been screened in four film festivals and in numerous high schools and colleges. Both Owens and Clarke will introduce the film. Clarke is renowned for his visual art projects, one of which is included in the exhibition. This prgram is free. For additional information about this program, please contact Carey Baughman at (714) 973-6610.

Museum Opens Native California Art Exhibit

The Old Courthouse Museum opens the exhibition "Sing Me Your Story, Dance Me Home: Art and Poetry from Native California" on Monday, February 9, 2009. In this exhibition, California Native American stories, songs and dance take form in poetry, painting, basketry, jewelry, printmaking, photography and sculpture. "Sing Me Your Story" features visual art by contemporary artists such as Rick Bartow, Harry Fonseca, Frank LaPena, and Judith Lowry, and poetry by Janice Gould, Deborah Miranda, and Stephen Meadows. The work of these artsists and poets relate to the renewal and recovery of traditions, ceremony and cultural practices within the Native American community in California. For instance, Deborah McConnell's basketry uses traditional materials and techniques. James Luna's "Apparitions I", a mixed-media photograh and light box, combines historical and contemporary images of Native Americans. "Sing Me Your Story" is on view until March 28, 2009.