Mother Bear's Books and Gallery was started in 2000 by author, poet, playwright, musician and actress Carolyn Dunn Anderson. "I wanted a place for the local Native American community to be able to gather, market and sell their art and a showcase for Native performers," said Dunn-Anderson.

The art gallery is host to many fine Native artists and photographers. Additionally, well-known Native performers like Joy Harjo (Creek poet & musician), Arigon Starr (Kickapoo-Creek musician/writer/actor), traditional drums groups The Mankillers have performed live at the venue.

You can also find one-of-a-kind items from local Native craftspeople, attend booksignings from authors like Robert J. Conley or Kristi Orona-Ramirez or hear poetry and new works from Cindi Alvitre or Happy Frejo. Groups like the California Creek Association have gathered at Mother Bear's to reconnect with each other and discuss tribal politics. You can also try out traditional arts like basketweaving.

"We hope to have a little of everything for everyone. Native people always need a place to gather and I want Southern California Indians of all tribes to feel at home here at Mother Bear's," said Carolyn.

You'll also find friendly help from Michelle Downes, Mother Bear's store manager or Carolyn's husband James Anderson -- who's otherwise known as "Papa Bear."

You can e-mail Michelle about store questions at:

michelle AT motherbearmedia DOT Com

(just replace AT with "@" and DOT with a ".")

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OPERATING HOURS

Mother Bear's summer hours are:

Monday - CLOSED

Tuesday-Wednesday - 9:00AM to 5:00PM

Thursday - 10:00 AM to 10:00PM

Friday - 9:00am to 5:00 PM

Saturday - 12:00pm to 6:00 PM

Sunday - CLOSED

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ABOUT CAROLYN DUNN

Carolyn Dunn is the co-editor of Through the Eye of the Deer and Hozho: Walking in Beauty. Her poetry & prose have appeared in The Colour of Resistance, Reinventing the Enemy's Language, Sing With The Heart of a Bear, and the forthcoming anthologies Green Man, Green Woman and Spirit Songs. A member of the Mankillers, an all Native woman Northern style drum group, she is a graduate of Humboldt State University and UCLA, and now lives in Los Angeles.

She also recently directed the staged reading of Arigon Starr's The Red Road at the Native Voices at the Autry Festival of Plays in Los Angeles and Starr's radio comedy Super Indian at the National Audio Theater Festival in West Plains, Missouri. Dunn-Anderson's script Ghost Dance was also selected for the Native Voices Playwrights Retreat.

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You can visit Carolyn online at:

http://www.carolyndunn.com

http://www.myspace.com/therealmotherbear

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Last updated on Tuesday, August 22, 2006

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©2006 Mother Bear's Media. All rights reserved.

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BEHIND THE SCENES AT MOTHER BEAR'S

L-R: Lurline Wailana McGregor (filmmaker), Arigon Starr (musician), Janet Miner (Record label owner/manager), Joy Harjo (poet/author/musician) and Cindi Alvitre (writer) backstage at Mother Bear's.

L-R: Arigon Starr (musician/actor/writer) with Joy Harjo (poet/author/musician) before their show at Mother Bear's.

Members of the all-female drum group The Mankillers who perform regularly at Mother Bear's.

Carolyn Dunn-Anderson at the drum with the Mankillers.

Members of the all-female drum group The Mankillers as they perform live at Mother Bear's Books & Gallery.