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The Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery offers more than just a quiet retreat to contemplate critically noted exhibitions highlighting the art and visual culture of Illinois. Special events, talks, guided tours, and informative presentations provide background information and insight, bringing each installation alive.
Dancing for our Tribe: Potawatomi Tradition in the New Millenium
Sharon Hoogstraten (Citizen Potawatomi Nation)
exhibit dates: October 9, 2026 - March 27, 2027. Reception: October17, 2026, 1:00-3:00 pm
Bozho — Hello in Potawatomi.
These 30 portraits by photographer Sharon Hoogstraten celebrates the Potawatomi people dressed in their dance regalia. Begun in 2010 at the Family Reunion Festival in Shawnee, Oklahoma, this project honors the descendants of the Great Lakes’ early inhabitants—proud, modern people preserving culture with intention.
Dancing for Our Tribe reflects how regalia is a living tradition, not a costume or relic. It is an expression of identity, blending ancestral artistry with contemporary life—from sewing machines and synthetic fabrics to tattoos and military service. Through these images, we see a vibrant culture adapting and thriving today.
Sharon Hoogstraten is an Emmy Award–winning photographer, animator, and graphic designer. Over the course of more than a decade, Hoogstraten photographed members of all nine Potawatomi nations in traditional regalia—work that led her to uncover her own ancestral connections. Her large-scale portraits affirm a powerful message: We Are Still Here. Her work has been exhibited in museums and cultural institutions nationwide.
We Are Still Here!
Read about Dancing for Our Tribe on our blog.