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Seminole Photo Exhibit Scheduled

If you happen to be in the Fort Myers Florida area in January and February, you might want to make a note to stop by the Alliance for the Arts on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers.

This organization, which is the official arts organization for Lee County as designated by the State of Florida and the County, has a handsome and friendly gallery on its campus at McGregor and Colonial Boulevards, in the shadow (figuratively speaking) of the Cape Coral bridge Colonial ramp.

The gallery will feature a special exhibition of photographs of the Seminole people, from the collection of W. Stanley Hanson. Born in 1883, Hanson was known as the "White Medicine Man". His father, a medical doctor, was a trusted friend of and councillor to the Seminole people.

Photographs that Hanson made, both intimately and respectfully, of Seminole villages, natives and culture deep in the Everglades at the time will be displayed starting January 18 through February 29, 2008.

Those who have seen these photographs describe them as a unique and privileged look into the world of the Seminoles in the 1900s. There will be special opening reception at the gallery on January 18, 2007 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

The gallery telephone number is 239-939-2787. More information about the show, "A Journey with the White Medicine Man", is available at


To view examples of traditional Seminole dolls and baskets, visit TribalWorks online gallery of tribal art. Scroll down to the Seminole section on the page.

Full disclosure, I, William Ernest Waites, am a member of the Board of Directors of the Alliance for the Arts. I am thrilled that this exhibition is coming to the Alliance. But I had absolutely nothing to do with it. I will, however, be there on opening night.