Page 22 - the NOISE June 2016

NATIVE ROOTS, TRIBES, COLOR, SYMBOLS
A COLLABORATIVE SHOW OF AMERICAN INDIAN ART
FROM LEFT: Too’tsa Hummingbird and Card Choctaw Boy and Grandparents are two of the pieces featured at the “Journeys In Spirit” Exhibition in Prescott.
STORY BY
NIKKI CHARNSTROM
Heritage, identity and symbolic imagery of numerous Native tribes forge together to introduce a presentation of fine art unique to these indigenous artists. Prescott’s ’Tis Art Center and Gallery and Smoki Museum join to present “Journeys in Spirit,” traditional and contemporary art by American Indian Artists. In collaboration, the tribes of the Acoma, Apache, Choctaw, Diné, Hopi, yavapai, and Zuni use their artistic lifestyle to bring their past, present and future to life.
Beginning at the time of birth, the artists were exposed to stories, ceremonies and rituals passed down from generation to generation. It was through this phase in their life when they learned of the sacred colors of their people and how beneficial Mother Nature’s elements can be in the creative process.
Although ’Tis has produced a Native American Contemporary Art show for several years, it was just last year the show was given a name, setting itself apart from the others. This name reflects the individual exploration of creating art from within themselves, the community, society and culture. Since 2010 the show has grown in both quantity and quality of participating Native artists.
Smoki Museum Executive Director, Cindy Gresser explains, “Native art is growing, thriving, changing and truly one of the most collective art forms available. Invest in our Native people, their traditions, culture and future.” Ms. Gresser was asked by ‘Tis to assist in recruiting artists for the show, and to help curate the exhibition as well.
Exhibiting artist Fil (Yoimasa) Kewanyama of the Hopi Tribe in Second Mesa, AZ depicts what is sacred and important to him through chronicled work of the Hopi way-of-life. From growing up submerged in Hopi culture, the young artist learned of the ancestral ceremonies through initiations. His artistic influences stem from his knowledge on the history of the Hopi, and his personal beliefs and feelings.
“As kids growing up on Hopi land I think all of us grew up learning art because it is connected to our ceremonial way of life. We learn colors, images and the meanings,” Mr. Kewanyama says. “What inspires me the most is who I am as Hopi, our ceremonial way of life, and the spirituality.”
Through these experiences, he owes his creative processes to his childhood and the land he called home. Behind each work of art is a story connected to the ceremonies, sacredness of water, and all surrounding him. The artist hopes when the viewer stands before his work they receive understanding and Hopi perspective. With education as one of his major goals, Mr. Kewanyama strives to teach the non-Hopi of his culture and the way in which Hopi identify themselves. With his art on exhibition, this gives him a chance to display his definition of Hopi, The People of Peace.
Exhibitor and painter Karen Clarkson uses her ancestral and historical records to share a story of land and blood domination from both a tribal and historical perspective. Since she was a young girl, she has been drawing the human figure. Although she is a self-taught artist, she encourages herself to experiment. Much of her work consists of the Native American culture, landscapes and still life; as well as portraits in other mediums. For this upcoming exhibition, the artist plans to display a series of Choctaw paintings. Along with this series of paintings includes for the first time, buffalo skulls adorned with pigment paint and leather beading. These will be showcased in August later this year at the Santa Fe Indian Market.
In researching the paintings, and her own Choctaw and Cherokee heritage, Ms. Clarkson has uncovered family documents from the Dawes Commission Rolls, a relic from the time of forced enrollment when Native families were forced to list their percentage of Indian blood and personal information. For many of Ms. Clarkson’s paintings, she has painted portraits on the background of copies of her family’s Dawes Rolls, birth and marriage certificates and other historical documents.
“Patti Ortiz (’Tis Gallery Marketing and Program Director) and Cindy Gresser have always supported Native American arts in the Prescott community. Throughout the years I have been
fortunate to be involved in these efforts,” Ms. Clarkson says. “Patti and Cindy are committed and passionate about their vision to promote understanding of local Native art and culture. I am so very happy to be able to show my work, especially this series, in this very vibrant and inclusive collection.”
Photographer Night Zamora, from the yaqui Tribe has been behind the camera from the age of 15 and professionally as a freelancer at 18 years old. Beginning at childhood, the photographer found interest in drawing with pencils, chalk and oil paints but above it all photography has been more than a passion.
Inspiration is sought through the recent death of the artist’s younger sister, also an appreciator for the art of photography. “Since she passed I have a deeper love for this gift God has given me; and since my little sister can’t continue to do what she loved, I have decided to do even more so I can continue doing this in honor of her,” Ms. Zamora shares.
With a love for all areas of photography, the artist finds the most joy in wildlife, scenic, portraiture, and monochrome. The images the photographer has chosen for this show include, Wise Wolf, Ol’ Timer and Living Canvas.”
Wise Wolf is a tribute to the wolves killed around the globe because of the “vile name” society has placed over them. This detailed image forces the viewer to look into the eyes of the wolf but only find intelligence, peace and beauty.
“All living things have life and deserve to live, love and be loved,” the photographer expresses. Living Canvas is a nude photograph of a young woman adorned with tattoos. With a fire for nude photography, Ms. Zamora feels when executed with class and quality the results are beautiful. Society has misconstrued the art behind nude photography to instead be something that is distasteful and inappropriate. The artist hopes to tear down those walls of shame and
reveal the beauty of how we were brought into this world.
“Journeys in Spirit” is important to Ms. Zamora because it gives the showcasing artists an
opportunity to express themselves and to share their heritage through their art.
“I hope the viewers will appreciate how I see God’s beauty through my lens and see how it’s different and unique compared to other photographers; but most importantly I want them to
feel the love I have for this gift,” Ms. Zamora explains. “I do what I love for Him and for my sister.”
In experiencing the overall show Ms. Gresser anticipates a well-rounded exposure of Native American art and the cultures associated around it.
“When they look at a Karen Clarkson painting, I hope they understand the journey the Choctaw people have experienced and I hope when they look at a Fil Kowanyama painting they see the beauty of the Hopi symbols,” Ms Gresser reveals.
This exhibition of cultural lineage and Native roots will be on public display at the ’Tis Art Center and Gallery, 105 South Cortez Street Prescott, until June 21 Monday through Friday (closed on Wednesdays) from 10AM-5PM and Sunday 12-5PM. Various artists will be giving demonstrations, and there will be a variety of presentations. “We are hoping that the Acoma Pueblo Buffalo Dancers will be appearing, Karen Clarkson will be doing beading demonstrations, Virgil Nez will be visiting and talking about his paintings, and we will have several Santo Domingo artists throughout the weekend demonstrating,” Ms. Gresser says. Through June 11
‘Tis is holding a raffle to benefit the Prescott Powwow “Elders Embracing youth Social.” Two winners will be drawn to win 1⁄4 of the collected money from ticket sales to be used at ‘Tis Arts Gallery. TisArtGallery.com, SmokiMuseum.org
| Nikki Charnstrom is a rail-riding journalist with a love for film photography. art@thenoise.us
22 • JUNE 2016 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us