By Jessica Miller
The Seneca Nation has curated a striking art collection at each of their three casinos that would justify a visit solely to admire their beauty. Native talent and pride are prominently displayed throughout the premises at all three locations. Visitors might take special note of the vibrant murals of men, women, and children in regalia that offer glimpses into the life moments and beliefs of the Southern Tier’s original people.
In his honor the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum is curating “Carson Waterman: A. Retrospective” as a celebration of Waterman’s life, work, and profound impact on the representation of Onöndowa’ga:’ identity and visual culture over the past several decades. This exhibition will open to the public on May 27, 2023 and be on display through April 2024 at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum at 82 West Hetzel Street in Salamanca NY 14779. Call 716-945-1760 or visit www.senecamuseum.org for more details.
Carson Waterman’s artwork is easily recognized by its portrayals of everyday Six Nations life as it was, is, and can be. Astronauts and sports cars harmoniously coexist with dancers and traditions as celebrations of resilience and heritage. He uses his skills to share visions of the strength and beauty of Seneca culture, as well as that of the other five nations of the Iroquois/Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
Mr. Waterman calls upon his experiences as a member of the Snipe clan, a boy in the Thomas Indian School, a Vietnam War Army veteran, and as an art teacher to influence his artwork. His family raised him to know their traditions and customs, so Waterman held fast to his culture despite the government assimilation efforts of the boarding school system. One of the few fun pastimes allowed by the school was coloring, so he quickly took to pen and paper and began his creative journey.
The next notable chapter in Waterman’s artistic journey began when he drew a portrait of his lieutenant while in Vietnam. The officer was so impressed by the portrait that a general ordered Waterman to be transferred from combat to the force infantry division public information in Pleiku, South Vietnam, where he would then spend the rest of his military career making artwork for the Army. He credits art with saving his life—in multiple instances and multiple senses of the phrase. Indeed, “Survival Art” as he calls it, has made indelible imprint upon his own life and the lives of others.
After Waterman’s time in service was completed, he continued his artistic career as an instructor at the Cleveland Museum of Art and interned at the Smithsonian Institution of Washington, DC and the New York State Museum in Albany. The museum path led him back to Salamanca, where he remains active in the artistic community and Seneca Nation. His works are proudly displayed outside of gallery and museum settings from a mural in downtown Salamanca to NFTA buses in Buffalo and Niagara Falls. “The Clan Mother Bonds All Nations” greets Salamanca’s Main Street travelers with representations of leadership and the eight clans of the Seneca nation. As a prominent and renowned artist, it was an easy decision for the SNI to commission his work for their casinos and museums.
The Seneca Allegany casino has had Waterman’s murals displayed for over a decade. The wall outside of the Seneca Café and the walls of the Thunder Mountain Buffet provide opportunities to feast the eyes as well as the stomach. Portraits of families, dancers, and spiritually significant symbolism capture happy moments and represent ancestral beliefs about the world. Before entering the casino, passersby get a sampling of the works inside from the windows. Gustowehs are in the window to represent the Six Nations with feather placements and colored ribbons specific to how each nation wears their headdress. These caps are flanked on either side by three women; details on all eight windows are well-deserving of a closer look when entering the casino.
Mr. Waterman has a sharp eye for distinctions in Seneca artwork and representations; he easily describes the unique floral and rounded patterns of the Haudenosaunee and compares and contrasts the geometric and angular features found in desert nations’ art. Like other Seneca art, his pictures call upon the western New York/Ontario natural surroundings that inspired the area’s original citizens from so long ago. He rightly takes pride in his work spreading the original imagery and culture through the generations for them to pass along to the next.
Art mavens don’t have to leave their homes to have their own Carson Waterman on display. These enthusiasts can get his own work in their homes by visiting https://carsonwaterman.webs.com/ for prints or commissions.
Be sure to make the grand opening on May 27 at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum from 10am-4pm. “Distinguished Onöndowa’ga:’ (Seneca) artist and “national treasure of the Seneca Nation”, for Carson Waterman’s career-spanning retrospective show opening at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum in Salamanca, New York this May. “Carson Waterman: a Retrospective” showcase will feature a wide selection of works including output from his time as a student at the Cooper School of Art in Cleveland, Ohio, harrowing sketches from his tour in Vietnam, where he served as a combat artist, and the original rendering of his bold reimagining of the iconic Buffalo Sabres logo that the team commissioned in 2021, and more. This exhibition will open to the public on May 27, 2023 and be on display through April 2024. Coinciding with the May 27 event, there will be a dedication ceremony for the longhouse replica, which is located in the rear of the Onöhsagwë: de’ Cultural Center.