Pottery plays a versatile role in most Native cultures, being used for storage, decoration and gift exchange. Now an art exhibit at the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur compares traditional and modern pottery styles from two important regions. "Sculpting Cultures: Southeast and Southwest Native Pottery Exhibit" features pieces from the five major southeastern tribes that faced relocation to Oklahoma, along with works from the Keres language family of Pueblos located in New Mexico. The Center worked with the Indian Arts Research Center at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe to acquire eight valuable pots from its collection, and some of the work on display dates back as far as the 1880s. There are also contemporary pots on display, including pieces by Chickasaw artists. The exhibit is intended to inform visitors about the history and techniques of southwestern pottery and to highlight design and symbols that reflect tribal heritage in both regions. "Sculpting Cultures" opened in March and will remain open until September 2.