Join us at Castellani Art Museum on June 12, 2025, for a memorable opening reception, featuring powerful Indigenous voices and perspectives. Enjoy light refreshments and an opportunity to talk with the talented artists and individuals who created these works.
We Were At the School. We Were There. We Remember. features ten Indigenous artists reflecting on the lasting impact of the Thomas Indian School on Seneca-Cattaraugus Territory. Curated by Hayden Haynes (Seneca, Deer Clan), it is a community-driven tribute to truth, resilience, and remembrance.
Pre-Reception Tour: CAM Members can enjoy a 4:30 pre-reception tour with Guest curator and artist Hayden Haynes and CAM Curators Michael Beam and Edward Millar. Members signing up for the tour do not have to sign up for the reception—you are welcome to simply stay after the tour and enjoy! Tour tickets available in the reception ticketing page.
Reception: From 5:00–7:00 p.m., the general public, Niagara University campus, and CAM members become the first to see these new exhibitions and meet the artists behind them.
5:15 p.m. | Gallery Talk about Thomas Indian School with Dr. Lori Quigley 6:15 p.m. | Meet & Greet with Curators Michael Beam, Edward Millar, and artists4:30 p.m. | Pre-Reception CAM Members Tour
5:45 p.m. | Remarks
6:00 p.m. | Meet & Greet with Guest Curator and Artist Hayden Haynes, exhibiting artists & CAM Curators Michael Beam and Edward Millar
Post-Reception Gathering: From 7:00-9:00, keep your creative conversations going by joining CAM staff and the artists at an afterparty at Gallo Coal Fire Kitchen. Enjoy drinks and great snacks at the cash bar. No RSVP required. Located at 402 Center Street, Lewiston, NY 14092.
Parking available in Castellani, Gallagher, and Dwyer lots (see confirmation email for more information). RSVP by June 9.
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Image Credit:
Amanda Lickers (Seneca, Turtle Clan), Lower Mission House – Present Day, Cattaraugus Territory, from the Remembering Series, 2021, digital art and photo print on canvas, 12’x12’. Image courtesy of Hayden Haynes.
These exhibitions are made possible in part through the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
The Castellani Art Museum (CAM) at the center of the Niagara University campus is dedicated to the enjoyment and educational potential of artistic creativity. As a major resource for the visual arts in Niagara County, the CAM's permanent collection includes over 5,000 pieces of mainly modern and contemporary art, and hosts a unique Folk Arts Program supporting traditional artists and community-based cultural traditions in the Buffalo-Niagara region.
In keeping with Niagara University's Vincentian mission, the museum recognizes and serves the diverse racial, ethnic, and religious communities of the Niagara region through the organization and presentation of exhibitions which honor and explore their artistic traditions and contemporary output. In addition to presenting diverse artistic expressions, the museum works in partnerships to explore and redefine the relationship between the museum and its constituencies.
As a university museum, the Castellani Art Museum serves the educational needs of the community, by working with Niagara University faculty on integrative learning projects for college students and providing art education programs for area schools and cultural organizations. The museum staff works with educators to develop art-based learning programs that help to promote critical thinking.
Visit us online at https://castellaniartmuseum.org/
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