Celebrating the Grand Portage community’s donation of a Travis Novitsky photograph is (L-R) Grand Portage Tribal Council Secretary-Treasurer April McCormick, Travis Novitsky, Judge Michael Cuzzo, and retired Judge Kenneth Sandvik.
Thanks to former Cook County Judge Kenneth Sandvik, the Cook County courtroom is a more welcoming place. During his tenure, Sandvik encouraged local attorneys to contribute a work of art to give the courtroom less of an institutional feeling. The tradition continued on April 9 as Judge Michael Cuzzo, who was elected to Sandvik’s former seat, hosted another unveiling of courtroom art. As with the previous donations, this is one that has a strong local connection—it is a beautiful image by Grand Portage photographer Travis Novitsky. The donors of the beautifully framed photograph are the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and attorneys Jessica Ryan and Andrew Small.
Judge Sandvik returned for the occasion and he said he was delighted to see so many Grand Portage community members in attendance. Many community elders had come in on the Grand Portage Community Transport bus.
Jessica Ryan also said she was very happy to be in the courtroom for this occasion. She thanked Judge Sandvik for starting the tradition of courtroom art. She said it would be very meaningful to have artwork of a Grand Portage band member in the courthouse.
This beautiful nighttime photograph of the Spirit Little Cedar Tree or Manido Gizhigans, sometimes known as “The Witch Tree,” was the latest contribution to the artwork in the Cook County courtroom. It was taken by Grand Portage photographer Travis Novitsky.
Reservation Tribal Council Secretary-Treasurer April McCormick spoke on behalf of the tribal council, noting, “It is exciting to have a piece of artwork that represents our space and place, by a Grand Portage artist.”
McCormick introduced Novitsky who said he was honored when the tribal council approached him about having his work at the courthouse. He thought a lot about which photograph to offer. He and McCormick lifted the green cloth to unveil the photo he had selected— an amazing framed photograph of the Spirit Little Cedar Tree or Manido Gizhigans, taken at night with the ancient cedar silhouetted against moonlit Lake Superior.
Community members gathered to talk to Novitsky about this photograph and the many others that are on display throughout the community. Refreshments were then enjoyed and all agreed that the Spirit Little Cedar Tree was a wonderful choice to represent the Grand Portage community.
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