July events at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

COLLINSVILLE - The Contemporary Indian Art Show, a storytelling program and ongoing archaeological excavations are featured during July at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site.

 

The Contemporary Indian Art Show is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, July 8 and 9, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Twenty-nine American Indian artists from around the nation will display and sell their works of fine art in this juried show. There will a variety of paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor and gouache; drawings and prints; ceramics and sculpture in metal, wood; jewelry, silverwork and beadwork; flutes and music; and much more. There will be something for every interest and pocketbook, so bring the family, mingle with the artists and take home an original Native work of art.  There will be a preview party from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday, July 7 for an early chance to view and purchase the art and meet the artists, as well as enjoy an hors d'oeuvres and dessert buffet and cash bar.  Judges will select the winners in two and three-dimensional art, and the prize money will be awarded to the artists; attending guests will vote for the "People's Choice" award. Those wishing to attend the preview party should contact the Cahokia Mounds Museum Society at (618) 344-7316; the ticket cost is $15 per person.

 

The "Cahokia Mound Builder Award" will be presented posthumously to Albert S. Meyer of Belleville as part of the ceremonies at the Contemporary Indian Art Show Reception on Friday evening, July 7 at 8 p.m.  The Mound Builder Award is presented to individuals or organizations that have made important contributions to Cahokia Mounds. Meyer, an artist and art teacher at Belleville Township High School and Belleville Area College (now SWIC), was involved in Cahokia Mounds in many ways. From the late 1960s through the mid-1970s he assisted archaeologists with excavations, especially in the mapping and illustration of artifacts; he was a founding member and first president of the Cahokia Archaeological Society; and he was a member and officer of the board of directors of the Cahokia Mounds Museum Society from the 1980s until his death this year. The Award will be presented to members of Mr. Meyer's family.

 

A storytelling program, "Survivor on Book Island," will be held July 15 at 2:30 p.m. by Marilyn and Larry Kinsella.  Marilyn, a professional storyteller, will relate stories about the Swiss Family Robinson and how they survived being stranded on an island.   Larry will demonstrate techniques of making cordage (string and rope), fire starting and flintknapping (making tools and weapons from flint). Marilyn will finish up with the story "How Coyote Stole the Fire."  This will be an excellent program for all family members.

 

Archaeological excavations are in progress and may be viewed by the public during July. Archaeologists are searching for part of the large palisade or stockade wall that once surrounded the central ceremonial area of Cahokia. This shows up as linear stains in the soil that indicate where the deep trenches were dug that once supported the log posts that formed the defensive wall. The wall was built at least four times and was nearly two miles long.  Crews from the Washington University Archaeological Field School and volunteers from the Earthwatch Institute are involved in the excavations.

 

Guided tours of Cahokia Mounds are offered twice daily, weather permitting, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. The tours are free and last about one hour. Self-guided tape tours are available with the free loan of a cassette player at the Information Desk or the purchase of a guidebook, available in 13 languages, in the Gift Shop.  Visitors with disabilities may view a 17-minute video tour of Cahokia Mounds, upon request, and Braille guidebooks are available.

 

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site is just eight miles from downtown St. Louis in Collinsville, Illinois, off Interstates 55/70 and 255, and Illinois route 111, on Collinsville Road. It is open seven days a week through Labor Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  There is no admission fee, but a donation of $2 for adults and $1 for children is suggested. For more information call 618-346-5160 or go to the web site at www.cahokiamounds.com.