Art Collector to Discuss Silver Seed Pots July 24, 2008

Chicago art collector Norman Sandfield will discuss a little-known genre of modern Southwest Native American art the miniature silver seed pot in a presentation Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, 3001 Central St., Evanston.

Sandfield, who has been collecting these tiny, decorative works of art for more than two decades, will show an array of exquisitely crafted silver seed pots, including some recent acquisitions.

According to Sandfield, this art form originated about 30 years ago and remains unfamiliar to many Native American art collectors. This is far out of the mainstream, he says.

A fan of miniature art, Sandfield says he took an immediate liking to the tiny pots when he first spotted some in a private gallery. I was just acquiring things I liked, not consciously starting a collection, he says.

In addition to acquiring seed pots from galleries and regional American Indian markets, Sandfield has commissioned about two dozen pieces from a variety of Native artists.

Sandfield donated an extensive silver seed pot collection to the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Ariz. In 2007 the Heard Museum published a book, "Old Traditions in New Pots: Silver Seed Pots from the Norman L. Sandfield Collection," authored by Heard curator Tricia Loscher. Sandfield wrote the preface and will sign copies of the book during his Mitchell Museum appearance.

Admission to the presentation is included with an entrance donation to the museum. Suggested donation is $5 for adults; $2.50 for seniors, students, and children. Maximum suggested admission per family is $10. For information, phone (847) 475-1030. On the Net: www.mitchellmuseum.org.

Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of natsilv.