Page 15 - the NOISE June 2012

Canyon Morning by Roberta Rogers is among the artist’s work at Flagstaff Art in the Park, this Fourth of July weekend.
THE WORLD OF SHONTO BEGAY
by Leah Baggao
Speaking with Shonto Begay this week- end made me want to change the world. He inadvertently opened my eyes and gave me insight into a world that so closely surrounds me, yet I continuously fail to see the specific moments that speak the beauty of pain and a history that should not be forgotten, but built upon. Mr. Begay’s paintings inspire this and I think his hope is to have others experience the same reaction I had in our 2-hour meet- ing. Images of dusty, old abandoned cars and starlit nights illuminate hooded adolescents on the Navajo reservation who breathe in a modern way of life via cigarettes, cell phone messages and chemical plant smog. These are just a few of the things that are embed- ded into Mr. Begay’s memory and are exter- nalized onto the canvas.
“I paint what I see and I paint what I know,” Mr. Begay says. “I paint the rusty old vehicle trailers that no longer move; scurrying past the witch tree in the middle of the night; these images are not necessarily pretty. It’s not about painting stoically native art. It’s about reality; it’s about trying to understand the world I come from.”
Mr. Begay is not just a great asset to the community but a person who couldn’t live without expressing himself with art. “I am very fortunate to have been blessed with this outlet, not only financially, but emotionally and creatively. If I didn’t, I don’t know where I’d be. I started out rendering my world with
anything I could find. I grew up pretty much alone, as a shepherd. I was alone as opposed to being lonely. I was out there alone all day long and it gave me plenty of time to think and, of course, to imagine. Living in that oth- er world and learning how to draw, and see- ing how the vision came and learning how certain aspects of my world dance; see the trees dance, the clouds, and the shadows on the land and the constant changes of the sea- sons. I just drew, I never even painted until the late 80s.” When Mr. Begay started to paint he honed a certain style that people recog- nize to this day. He uses acrylic on canvas; he allows his people to help in his process to ex- press what they themselves cannot.
As a very successful painter, Mr. Begay doesn’t hesitate to give back to the people. He jumps at the chance to donate art to fund- raisers to help raise money for schools. He talked to me about spreading a message to troubled youth about finding their passion and rising above circumstance.
“I think the world I came from has been the world of beaten down people. I come from a culture that is still strong. The language is strong and we are beautiful people but at the same time we are beaten down. We are ex- hausted and traumatized through programs like the United States government boarding school system of the 1960s. They were very brutal institutions.
“I also came from a world that is the reserva- tion. The reservation is where I would go back every summer as a kid. Away from the board-
ing school, away from the atrocities. Those were the times in the summer where I was back in my own dusty world. I would create songs, stories and chants. I would witness the bleating of newborn sheep and lambs. That’s my world. That’s what I treasure. That’s where my sanctuary was. Today I see a lot of that changing. There is so much dysfunction.”
Shonto is a beautiful word in Navajo that describes the reflection water makes onto a canyon wall. It is something that is easily looked over in passing. It is bypassed, but it is something that occurs in nature that is simply beautiful. It shines because the light is just right at the moment.
Mr. Begay paints those moments that people forget to stop, look and say, “That is simply beautiful.” He paints the stop sign full of bullet holes. He paints the adolescents of his people morphing between a warrior and a hoodlum. He encourages his viewers to look through a nonjudgmental lens into the world where he comes from. Take time to let Mr. Be- gay’s art change your world. You can find his art hanging at the West of the Moon Gallery at the new location, 14 North San Francisco Street. WestoftheMoonGallery.com
A FLAGSTAFF TRADITION
“I was first in Art in the Park when it was called, “Fair of Life,” for the Hospice Fund Rais- er,” watercolorist Roberta Rogers tells me.
“Every year has been especially memorable because of Stu’s high expectations for origi- nal art with the artists being present to share
with viewers. This presents a quality show for visitors. Many of the exhibitors have become great friends as well. The park is one of the most pleasant show venues an artist can find; with good food, great entertainment and comfortable shady trees for ambience.”
Ms. Roger’s recalls summers past at Art in the Park, “Hopi Dancers performed one year, and on another, the Belly Dancers gave a morning blessing, dancing thru the park. People visiting, walking dogs, and taking the kids for fun activities are just the sweetest parts of real Flagstaff.”
“Flag has turned into the most fun party town!” Ms. Rogers tells me. When you’re driv- ing into Flag you can just feel the energy! Ev- eryone from the heat is so glad to cool off and relax! There are horse races, the Hopi Show, the restaurants, fireworks and dancing! Yip- peeee! It is a three day party and I love it from the bottom of my heart, or even from the bot- tom of my baby toes!”
“Wheeler Park is special because it is in a great location, and for me, reconnecting with old friends and meeting new folks is fantastic. Being next to Joni Pevarnik is always great fun as she is full of high energy. It is fabulous in Flagstaff!”
The artist tells me of some of this year’s pursuits, “This past year I’ve been volunteer- ing with schools in Sasabe, Sonora. It is about an hour and a half from Tubac. Due to the car- tels, the schools, which only go to 8th grade, have been very isolated. With volunteers, we stuffed 400 back packs with paper, pencils,
thenoise.us • the NOISE arts & news magazine • JULY 2012 • 15