As an adjunct professor of American Indian history and art at Palomar College, Joanna Bigfeather dreamed of curating an exhibition of American Indian art at the college. With "Rituals," that dream has come true.

"I wanted to create an exhibit that focused on local Indians," said Bigfeather, who is Western Cherokee and Mescalero Apache and lives on the La Jolla Indian Reservation in Pauma Valley. "So this is my first exhibit that does that. It will coincide with Native American Week in September."

Bigfeather was hired as the new director of Boehm Gallery last winter. Her extensive background includes serving as the former director and curator of exhibitions at the American Indian Community House Gallery/Museum in New York City. and director of the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum in Santa Fe, N.M.

The Boehm Gallery exhibition features two aspects of American Indian art. The first involves 50 paintings from a local collector (who wishes to remain anonymous). These are from the '40s, '60s and '70s, all from the Art School of the Santa Fe Indian School, one of the major movements in American Indian art. The paintings, most of which depict American Indian rituals such as dancing, are from Navajo, Hopi and Pueblo artists in New Mexico and Arizona.

"It's really a wonderful collection," Bigfeather said. "At the same time, I wanted to show California contemporary art as well. So I selected Cahuilla sculptor Gerald Clarke, who lives near the Anza reservation. I've known his work for many years."

Both of Clarke's contributions are installations. One is an 8-foot-by-8-foot basketlike wall with a large projection showing everyday scenes from his cattle ranch. The other utilizes long rolls of absorbent material (the type used on highways to prevent flooding) rolled into a 6-foot circle on the floor.

"He painted basket designs on it," she explained. "Then he rolled it in a spiral, like a basket. He's been learning bird songs of Native Americans and recording them on his iPod. So there are iPods and CDs suspended over the installation, as well as rattles and kerchiefs with words."

As an artist herself, Bigfeather has an extensive background in curating. She has been the director and curator for the American Indian Community House Gallery in New York City and the first female director of the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This will be her first exhibit as the new director of the Boehm Gallery.

"Since I started in January, we've done a lot to the gallery," she said. "We remodeled the reception area and painted the walls topaz and chili pepper red. This exhibit is the dedication of the new look."

It's the perfect show to open with, she said. "Visitors will see a collection with more work than they're used to, with a diversity of tribes that share types of ceremonies. My hope is that they'll see Native American traditions in a new, innovative way."

"Rituals"

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; through Oct. 13

Where: Boehm Gallery, Palomar College, 1140 W. Mission Road, San Marcos

Admission: Free

Information: (760) 744-1150, Ext. 2304

Web: www.palomar.edu/art/boehmgallery.html