Wesleyan The Art of Wangunk Elder Gary Red Oak O’Neil
Back to events350 South Main Street, Middletown, Connecticut 06457
Wesleyan Potters is honored to host a landmark event celebrating the life, art, and cultural legacy of Wangunk Elder Gary Red Oak O’Neil, one of Connecticut’s most influential Indigenous ceramic artists.
O’Neil’s unique relationship with Wesleyan Potters is foundational to his calling. Shaped by many hands, and 60 years of practice rooted in the clay and soil of Connecticut, it speaks to the layers of history beneath our feet. The exhibition includes pieces inspired by the ongoing archaeological excavations at the Lt. John Hollister site in Glastonbury, where Native American pottery and artifacts illuminate the Wangunk tribe’s interactions with early settlers. Additionally, pieces from his Creative Play, and Comforts From My Past series will also be featured in the Gallery.
Learn more about Gary Red Oak O'Neil
The exhibit runs from Wednesday, February 18th through Sunday, March 22nd. Gallery hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00am to 5:00pm, Fridays from 12:00pm to 5:00pm, Saturdays from 10:00am to 5:00pm, and Sundays from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Mondays and Tuesdays are by appointment only, please call 860.347.5925 to schedule.
Land Acknowledgement
Wesleyan Potters is located on the ancestral homelands of the Wangunk people, Indigenous stewards of the land along the Connecticut River.
As a community of artists and makers working with materials drawn from the land, we honor the enduring presence of the Wangunk community and their descendants, and we acknowledge our shared responsibility to approach this place and our practices with respect, care, and ongoing learning.