by Luke Laggis - Daily News City Editor

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A  unique art exhibit is entering its final days at the Nicolet College Art gallery, though it is really just beginning to come to life.

“Traditions - Transitions,” featuring the work of Rhinelander photographer Chris Dries, presents images of five Native American tribes celebrating their culture through pow wows in Lac du Flambeau. It is the first off-reservation art exhibit of The George W. Brown Jr. Ojibwe Museum and Cultural Center in Lac du Flambeau.

Dries has been taking photos of Northern Wisconsin’s Native Americans for 30 years. His study of the subject escalated when celebrated pow wow dancer Nick Hockings asked Dries to do a standing portrait of him. Dries used a 100-year-old 4x5 camera to replicate the type of image that would have been taken at the turn of the century. The exhibit carries that theme, capturing traditions of the past that are still a vital part of Native American culture today.

“When Nick asked me to take his picture it clicked that maybe I could give something back as a photographer,” Dries said.

Dries, who is now retired after spending many years on assignment with the Air National Guard, photographed the pow wows in Lac du Flambeau whenever he was home. The exhibit reflects five years of work.

He said he was drawn to the pow wows because of their social significance, and he immediately appreciated the ways in which the meaning and significance of the dances were passed down to younger generations.

The impetus for the exhibit came from Dries’ images and the suggestions of Theresa Mitchell, the director of the museum and cultural center in Lac du Flambeau. She suggested the exhibit and the possibility of Nicolet as a venue, he said.

The exhibit opened on Feb. 15, and Dries said it was rewarding to be able to share his images and the culture they represent.

“What really grabbed me emotionally by the heart was when they came down for the opening,” Dries said. “When they looked at the images of themselves you could feel the sense of pride.”

The exhibit’s final day is Friday, though it has generated positive response and Dries is hopeful it will return to Nicolet for another showing. He also heard from the Milwaukee Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian at Washington D.C.

“It’s exciting as a photographer to see your images come to life,” he said.

The Nicolet College Art Gallery is in the Learning Resources Center on the Rhinelander campus, located one mile south of the city just off of County Highway G. The gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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