Diane Schenandoah - The Great Tree of Peace
Join us Saturday, July 15 at 2pm for an artist talk by Diane Schenandoah followed by Haudenosaunee social dancing and singing. Light refreshments. This happening is free!
In Spring 2022, visiting artist Diane Schenandoah began work on The Great Tree of Peace, a site-specific installation that shares the culture and history of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, creates a space for contemplation, and restores perching and nesting habitat for grassland birds. The Great Tree of Peace began in March 2022 with the planting of a 10-year-old white pine in the middle of a meadow, donated by tree specialist Dave Travers. The white pine symbolizes the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, formed over 1000 years ago for the for Peace, Harmony and Unity among the people of the Oneida, Mohawk, Onondaga, Seneca and Cayuga Nations. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy is the oldest living democracy known to humankind. When the nations came together for peace, they buried their weapons of war underneath the Great White Pine, so there would be no more war.
At the tree planting, Diane buried a sheet listing “The Weapons of Words” and sacred tobacco at the tree’s base. She believes that a continued message of Peace, Harmony, and Unity is still relevant and very much needed today.
The sacred tobacco (photo credit Nick Borsellino)
Diane burying the Weapons of Words (photo credit Nick Borsellino)
The Weapons of Words and the sacred tobacco (photo credit Nick Borsellino)
Diane and Dave Travers planting the white pine (photo credit Nick Borsellino)
In May, Diane, members of her family, and Stone Quarry staff planted 24 strawberry plants encircling the tree. In the Oneida Nation, strawberries are a heart medicine: the fruit the Haudenosaunee eat on their way to the Creator’s land. Diane incorporated four strips of white ash bark coming from the base of the tree laid in the cardinal directions.
The 24 strawberry plants
Clockwise from left: Dave Travers, Diane's son Cameron, artistic director Sayward Schoonmaker, visiting artist Zoe Boucher, and Diane Schenandoah placing the white ash roots at the base of the tree. (photo credit Michelle Schenandoah)
In August, Diane constructed and added a bench made of black walnut with the Haudenosaunee flag burned into its seat. The bench is a place for contemplation. Signage sharing the history of the formation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy will be installed in September.
The bench (photo courtesy of the artist)
From left friends and family helping with the bench installation: Dave Travers, Shakowi, Cameron, and Afton (photo courtesy of the artist)
Diane is currently completing the culminating component of The Great Tree of Peace: a sculptural eagle made of driftwood that will sit atop the tree. Upon the project’s completion, Stone Quarry will hold a public gathering of Haudenosaunee Chiefs, Clan Mothers and Faithkeepers.
Diane with the white pine (photo credit Nick Borsellino)
About the artist
Diane Schenandoah is a Faithkeeper for Oneida Nation Wolf Clan of the Six Nations Haudenosaunee Confederacy. She was born on the Onondaga traditional territory in Syracuse, NY. She is an Alumni of Syracuse University College of VPA. She graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM. She is a sculptor for over 30 years, professional, singer and energy worker. Her Father was a Chief of the Beaver clan from the Onondaga Nation and her mother a Clan mother of the Wolf Clan of the Oneida Nation. Diane’s duty and traditional responsibility is to share and promote the use of a “Good Mind” which are ancestral principles of peace and the methods of conduct and responsibilities to the natural world. Diane’s artwork, intuitive energy work and writings are grounded in her culture and teachings which reveal the power of unconditional love. Her parents encouraged all her siblings to pursue their talents and gifts in the arts. Clifford was a Jazz musician and singer for Duke Ellington and their mother Maisie was an artist, painter, and pianist. Diane is also a backup singer and percussionist for her sister the internationally renowned Grammy winner, singer/songwriter Joanne Shenandoah. In the early 80's Diane moved to Albuquerque, NM to attend the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute where she earned a "Certificate of Completion in the Arts," and then moved to Santa Fe to attend the Institute of American Indian Arts where she earned two degrees in 3-Dimensional Arts and Creative Writing. Diane fell in love with sculpture while working with clay and stone, creating images of her culture. She was further encouraged when her works won numerous awards and were featured in exhibits and galleries throughout the United States. Diane stayed in Santa Fe for several years raising her daughter and first of her four sons. As her career progressed, she began to realize how blessed, in that she could share her culture through her work while further supporting her family. Diane has been honored with receiving two grants from the First Peoples Fund in South Dakota. She then created a series of Lady stick pin/necklaces in honor of woman, called the "Life Giver" series and a line of Jewelry with babies called "Angel Babies which were originally carved from Buffalo bone then cast in Sterling Silver and 18k gold. Sam’s Club online carries some of her designs. She works in several mediums, which includes various woods, Deer and Buffalo bone. Her designs are traditionally inspired through her rich culture which is blended with a contemporary flair. This work includes: Cradle boards, Rattles, furniture and custom work, utilizing local Black Walnut, Oak, shell and various materials. Diane was invited to participate in the Robert Rauschenberg foundation artist-in-residences 5-week program in Captiva, Florida and is now working in Australian Pine driftwood from Captiva Island.
Stone Quarry Art Park’s Visiting Artist program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.