A hand-drawn sketch of Mark Fischer's design for "The Gathering Place". (Courtesy: Milwaukee Public Museum)
(WTAQ-WLUK) — Oneida Nation sculptor Mark Fischer is creating a sculpture to represent the Native American tribes of Wisconsin.
It will be displayed outside the new home of the Milwaukee Public Museum, called the “Future Museum”.
“My drawing was to represent all 11 nations of Wisconsin,” Fischer explained. “So I put aspen trees together. Aspen trees are a really unique tree, as that they are all interconnected underground and they talk to each other.”
Fischer says the aspen trees are symbolic of the connection between each Wisconsin tribe.
“I made the community all Aspen trees so each tribe gets an aspen tree, and they will be represented by a floral pattern of their tribe,” He said.
Fischer also said the shape of the structure is that of a Native American sky dome.
“We decided to call it the gathering place. Where we all get together,” he said. “Inside we will have a place where a drum can go, and that everybody has their own tribal drum, and they’ll bring their drum down, and they’ll be able to play there. It’ll be outrageously loud.”
28 stones will line the outside of the structure — representing the meetings tribes held. It will allow visitors to learn about each tribe’s history.
James Flores, manager of Tribal Relations at the Milwaukee Public Museum, said that his sculpture was chosen from a collection of works from talented native artists.
“His level of experience, everything he’s done throughout his career has really been amazing, phenomenal work and we’re just very fortunate to have him aboard as part of this project,” Flores said.
Fischer has a piece in Green Bay, titled “Among the Aspens,” that shares the importance of the trees.
“The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation has three, 17-foot Aspens, and they are formed in the shape of hands, and they wanted to show how we give from generation to generation,” he explained.
Fischer’s piece will feature oxidized copper, which is representative of Native American copper spears.
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