Guatemala-Born Artist Captures Essence of Small Pacific Northwest Community in 'This Town' Exhibition



Anita Aparicio captures the essence of Bellingham in
her 'Bellingham Gothic' series in This Town
at Allied Arts of Whatcom County



Bellingham, Washington has some interesting history and crazy stories. Many know the legend of the man who had too many black cats who made clothing out them because they were overtaking the town.  My personal favorite is the tale of the "Bellingham Curse," which explains why people always leave the sleepy Pacific Northwest town near the Canadian border and then come back. I have done it three times, so it must be true! 

Regardless of the stories, the people of Bellingham have a spirit all their own and a deep passion for keeping the traditional traditional. It is the kind of place where everyone knows everyone else and generation after generation remain here to fulfill their legacies.

Artist Anita Aparicio with her original
work at Allied Arts of Whatcom County
Photo: Paul Niemi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What fascinates me about the new exhibit 2012 Juried Artist Series: This Town, which  just opened at Allied Arts of Whatcom County, is that one of its artists isn't from Bellingham at all, but Guatemala.  

A transplant to Bellingham, artist Anita Aparicio "became immediately enthralled by the old residences adorning Sehome and South Hill in Fairhaven as well as the old farmhouses and barns on the roads to Ferndale, Lynden and beyond."   For this show, the challenge for the charming artist, whom I spoke with in Spanish at length, was creating on a smaller scale.  Aparicio's mixed media series called "Bellingham Gothic" successfully fuses subjects found in Victorian-era photographs with her own take on local architecture.   Her work allows you to escape momentarily into the "subdued excitement" of the past.  You can almost smell vintage lace and hear the sounds of laughter and gossip as you walk past! 

Mixed media 'Bellingham Gothic' piece by
 Anita Aparicio at Allied Arts of Whatcom County

2012 Juried Artist Series: This Town opened on November 2 and runs through December 1.  Don't miss the work of painter David Ridgway and photographer Donald Simpson, who also give their unique perceptions of life in Bellingham as participating artists. The show will travel to the Hotel Bellwether for a month-long installation in their lobby, hallways, and Lighthouse Bar and Grill starting in early December. 

For more information on the exhibition visit www.alliedarts.org.

               

Cree/Mohawk Artist an Articulate 'Starr' in the World of Kwakiutl Art

These days, I am completely fascinated by most things "low-tech 101," especially complicated and time-consuming artistic processes.  Seeking out things low-tech has become a bit of a hobby for me, in these days of society's overwhelming total embrace of everything electronic. I guess you could also say that one of my hobbies is coaxing out the true character of people to make for interesting conversation.   It's a passion of mine to make the subjects who I interview feel at home in front of a camera, so much so that they relax. It is then that the viewer feels as though they are privy to the conversation as well.

A couple of Saturdays ago, I had the pleasure of meeting and observing Kwakiutl-style carver Gary Starr at work.  I hesitate to use the term "Kwakiutl-style" because Starr's work is innately Kwakiutl given his upbringing.   Born in Rochester, New York, Starr's biological father is Cree.  His mother, who is Six Nations Mohawk, later married Reg Scow, who is Kwakiutl from Alert Bay, British Columbia.  Starr was raised in Vancouver.  While he never participated in the Kwakiutl dances himself, he was always around Northwest Coast carving and learned his technique from well-known carver Barry Scow.  Starr has always considered Reg his father and considers Barry his mentor.  When asked if he ever felt like an outsider because of his non-Northwest Coast heritage, Starr said that that never occurred to him.  He was grateful to have been able to learn how to carve.  Through and through, he considers himself a Scow, and his purpose is to be the best carver he can be to honor his father Reg and his family.

The process of creating a Northwest Coast carving, like all arts, is labor-intensive.  Starr, who is known for his masks and highly articulated puppets, including minatures, makes no bones about letting us in on the source of his wood--the local lumber mill.  Starr seems to dislike smoke and mirrors when it comes to who he is as a man and as an artist.  Once he feels comfortable enough to let you past his initial quiet and contemplative exterior, you realize that below the surface lies a highly-intelligent, unapologetic, though incredibly sensitive man, who likes to make jokes both about the serious and the mundane.  At the mill, he seeks out pieces of cedar that fit the size of the concept he has in his mind. Sometimes he has to pay for the wood. Sometimes, he gets the scraps for free.  Often, he doesn't know what he will carve and lets the wood, its texture and shape guide him in the design. He jokes about being younger and not understanding the concept of letting the wood "speak" to him about what shape it wants to take.  As an adult, however, Starr is clear about how the relationship with the spirit of the wood is key in making the piece exceptional. After all, the tree once was a living thing and deserves to be honored.  In the selection process, identifying wood that lacks knots is a requirement since knots can hinder the crafting process and are detrimental to the physical strength of the piece. 

On the day that I met Gary Starr at Cedar Works Gallery, a Lummi Nation artist co-operative in Bellingham, Washington, the artist decided to carve a "simple" portrait mask.  Starr was nice enough to let me video and photograph the three-hour demonstration to show every step of his carving process. As he worked, Starr retiterated what his mentor taughth him--always redraw the pencil lines once the cut has been made. This will ensure the piece's symmetry  A lover of good music, Starr is used to jamming with heavy metal music playing in the background.  With us he chose to whistle, which functioned as a surrogate soundtrack to the very arduous carving process.  Throughout the three-hour demo, Starr showed his keen sense of humor and waxed sentimental about his love for his children.  In that amount of time, Starr was able to complete about 1/3 to 1/4 of the work.  Watch my interview with Gary Starr HERE.

The Kwakiutl Carving Process Comes to Uncle Paulie's World in April

Ever wondered how those Northwest Coast Native artists create such beautiful wood carvings?  In April, I will be featuring an interview with Cree/Mohawk carver Gary Starr, who was raised by his stepdad Reg Scow, a Kwakiutl from Alert Bay, British Columbia.   Barry Scow, a well-known carver, taught and mentored Gary, who is known for his incredibly articulated masks and puppets.

Today, Starr made a visit to Cedar Works Gallery in Bellingham, Washington to participate in a public demo.  Here is a teaser which speeds up the carving process for your enjoyment.  The music you hear in the background ("Return") is from Shelley Morningsong's latest NAMA Award-Winning ("Album of the Year)CD "Full Circle."



Giving the Gift of New Mexico Art on a Budget This Holiday Season

As Seen on 2 KASA Fox "New Mexico Style"

Colorful  reclaimed wood and metal pieces
Ghost Town Furniture

Well, it's the holidays and times are still tough for most people.  Have you ever wanted to give art as a holiday gift but weren't sure where to start, where to go or what to buy?  Art can sometimes feel intimidating.  It shouldn't be, if you keep my number one piece of advice for buying art in mind--buy what you like!  Some galleries may try to convince you that it is important to buy for investment.  For most, though, who don't plan to buy a Picasso or Kandinsky, value is less important.  True, many artists' work will appreciate, but in a bad economy, you may not get your investment back if you decide to sell it. That's why it's even more important to buy something that speaks to you or something that your loved one will enjoy.  After all, you or someone will have to live with the piece day in and day out. It may even become a treasured family heirloom! 

With artists and galleries struggling, it is even more important to buy your art locally.  Every community is blessed with terrific artists, and New Mexico cities are no exception. Often times, people will spend upwards of $200 for framed prints by famous artists at the local hobby shop.  Did you know that for the same price or less, you can give a one-of-a-kind gift for the holidays in the form on original art made by a local artist?

New Mexico has some amazing original art that is available both directly from the artists themselves and galleries.  My experience as a New Mexico resident has allowed me to see a wide array of art. That's the reason I decided to put together my own comprehensive holiday gift guide featuring great art for people shopping on a budget.   From functional art to traditional Native American, contemporary and wearable art, I hope you find my picks as exciting as I do!

Functional Art:

Functional art is the kind of art that we can live with, enjoy, and use in our everyday lives.  Furniture is a great example.  Ghost Town Furniture in Nob Hill is one of the best purveyors of rustic furniture in the Mexican style in Albuquerque. Claudio Cruz and his family create beautiful pieces made from reclaimed wood and metal.  Pieces include colorful chairs for $135, this ranch shelf for $240,  nichos for $125 and holiday angels for $18 for small ones and $58 for the larger ones.

Ranch shelf
Ghost Town Furniture

Reclaimed wood and metal angels
Ghost Town Furniture

Micaceous serving bowl by Clarence Cruz
Andrews Pueblo Pottery & Art Gallery

Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo potter Clarence Cruz creates beautiful functional pottery out of black and gold micaceous clay.  From bean pots to stew bowls to ollas, Cruz's work is stunning and can actually be used to cook and eat from because of the properties of the micaceous clay and the firing process involved with making the pottery.    Andrews Pueblo Pottery and Art Gallery in Old Town carries a wide array of Clarence Cruz's functional pottery.  This is a wonderful idea for a holiday party hostess gift. It's a serving bowl that will only set you back $75.

Native American Art:

When it comes to buying Native American art, do your research and know the dealer from whom you are buying it.  Only reputable dealers will represent the art they sell as made by Native Americans.  Native art sales are highly regulated by the government.   Bob Andrews of Andrews Pueblo Pottery and Art Gallery in Albuquerque's Old Town knows a thing or two about Native American art since he has been selling it for 38 years and you know that when you buy from Bob Andrews that it is going to be authentic.

Dreamcatcher  by Carrie Lucero

I really love the traditionally made dreamcatchers made by Carrie Lucero, who is a member of the Onondaga Tribe of the Iroquois Nation.  Did you know that the circle is not a traditional form? It came about when artists started using metal hoops to make them. Carrie utilizes natural wood with organic materials ranging from horse hair to quartz crystals to shells and feathers.  She also handwrites booklets that are attached to the dreamcatchers, which give the meanings of all of the materials.  This dreamcatcher painted black is available at Andrews Pueblo Pottery and Art Gallery for $62.

White marble and black jet bears
by Herbert Halate
Andrews Pueblo Pottery &Art Gallery

If you live in the Southwest, you are, no doubt, familiar with festish carvings from Zuni Pueblo. While it is forbidden to sell true fetishes that are used for religious purposes, many artists such as Herbert Halate, create fetish carvings that can be sold.  Pieces such as these bear carvings cut from jet and white marble are essentially miniature sculptures and are the perfect gift for those who love bears or sculpture. Both are available at Andrews Pueblo Pottery and Art Gallery for $69 and $95 respectively.

Contemporary Art:

"Our Lady of Sorrows" by Nicholas Herrera
Legends Santa Fe

 If finding affordable art by top contemporary Native American artists is your thing, look no further than Legends Santa Fe, a gallery that specializes in Native art and regional non-Native artists. On November 25, Legends Santa Fe opened its "Holiday Small Works" show offering pieces in the $300 to $1000 range by its roster of artists.  Famed non-Native American New Mexico artist Nicholas Herrera created "Our Lady of Sorrows" for the show. It's priced at $450, which is a bargain for this artist whose work is found in museums around the world.

"Untitled" by Frank Buffalo Hyde
Legends Santa Fe

Cool Nez Pierce and Onondaga Native artist Frank Buffalo Hyde created this awesome untitled piece featuring the Bat Mobile for the exhibition. It is currently selling for $300.  For more information on the show and the gallery, visit www.legendssantafe.com.

Day of the Dead ornanments by Amber Middleton
Mariposa Gallery

One of my favorite galleries in New Mexico is Mariposa Gallery in Albuquerque's Nob Hill. Since 1974, the gallery has been carrying funky and fabulous local art. Local artist Amber Middleton creates these cool Day of the Dead paper clay ornaments. They're not what you usually think of when it comes to the holidays, but they're quintessentially New Mexico and will make a wonderful addition to your holiday tree. They come in smaller and larger sizes ranging from $40-$45 in price.

Ariela Boronat is a Cuban-born, Santa Fe-based artist who creates beautiful mixed-media paintings that are based on her travels around the world.  Her works, which can be found in private collections around the world, can run upwards of $300.  This holiday season, Ariela is creating pieces such as "Musical (11" x 14")" priced at $175 and "Old Memories (8" x 10")" $85, a great way to make her work affordable.  They are available at www.arielaboronat.com.

"Musical" by Ariela Boronat
www.arielaboronat.com

"Old Memories" by Ariela Boronat
www.arielaboronat.com

Wearable Art:

Earrings by Priscilla Aguilar
Andrews Pueblo Pottery & Art Gallery

Turquoise earring are a staple in New Mexico. Andrews Pueblo Pottery and Art Gallery features gorgeous inlay earrings made by Kewa Pueblo jeweler Priscilla Aguilar.  Andrews carries a variety of colors and designs.  These earrings are authentic and are a steal at $165.

If you're in the market for wearable art, check out Studio 13 in Albuquerque's Old Town.  Owner and artist Daniel Ramirez, who is Saginaw-Chippewa creates original art on clothing based on his art.  Daniel is currently working on "The World's Longest Native American Painting," which features prominent tribal women, who are constants in his work.  While $800 to $5000 paintings are not in most people's budgets, prints can be had for around $18 to $95 and cards sets cost $28.  Original painted clothing such as the t-shirt below featuring a basic design ($40) are great affordable statement pieces. Cost is determined by clothing item and complexity of the art. Visit Studio 13 in Old Town in person or online HERE.

"Women of the Four Directions" by Daniel Ramirez
Studio 13

Original wearable art by Daniel Ramirez
Studio 13

Bra Shrinky Dinks ring by Kris Mills
Mariposa Gallery

When I was a kid, Shrinky Dinks were all the rage. Today, local Albuquerque artist Kris Mills creates miniature graphite drawings on Shrinky Dinks before baking them.  Then she sets them in silver making pendants, cufflinks and exciting rings like this "Bra" ring available at Mariposa Gallery in Nob Hill.  This is a unique and affordable gift at $135.  www.mariposa-gallery.com.

Men are often hard to shop for. For the man who appreciates unique and sleek jewelry, why not give him this tufa cast cuff bracelet and ring by Kewa Pueblo artist Dino Garcia.  The bear claw and tulip designs are traditional,  but they can be incorporated with the fashion-forward wardrobe and can be worn together or separately.  The cuff is $225 and the ring is $90. Both are available at Andrews Pueblo Pottery and Art Gallery. www.andrewspp.com.

Tufa cast cuff and ring by Dino Garcia
Andrews Pueblo Pottery & Art Gallery

Street sign money clip by Peter Gilroy
Mariposa Gallery

For the man who hates a cumbersome wallet, give him this one-of-a-kind street sign money clip made by Northern New Mexico artist Peter Gilroy.  He retains the original patina of the signs that he uses in his work, but makes them cool and bold by polishing the sides and backs.  This is definitely not your grandfather's money clip, and it's a bargain at $50. Available at www.mariposa-gallery.com.







(*Paul Niemi is a compensated spokesperson for all of the products and services contained within this gift guide)

Get Ready to Shop and Stroll in ABQ's Nob Hill

If you are going to be in the Albuquerque Area, be sure to stop by Nob Hill to participate in the 2011 Nob Hill Holiday Shop and Stroll. 

The mission of the Nob Hill Main Street and the colorful annual event is to "promote the revitalization of Albuquerque's historic Nob Hill District through education, historic preservation, beautification, and promotion of community and civic pride."

Nob Hill galleries, retailers and restaurants will be open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, December 1 to entice shoppers to get into the holiday spirit and spend, spend spend!

So, get a head start on your holiday shopping in Nob Hill! For more information visit http://www.rt66central.com/shopandstroll.html.

Photographer Ray Belcher Returns to Santa Fe Art Scene with First Solo Show in Ten Years

To the average person, the name Ray Belcher is not familiar, but for art collectors and Santa Fe art insiders, the name is synonymous with New Mexico photography.  Having garnered several artistic awards during the 1960s and 70s, the artist arrived in Santa Fe from California during the mid-1970s.  While he began his photographic journey developing pictures for actors, Belcher has made his name as one of the few photographers who still utilizes the black and white gelatin silver printing process. Belcher's fascination lies in the mystery of the absence of color.

"Black and white is challenging because you don’t necessarily know what colors are.  Black and white lets you get a result which captures what you were feeling at the moment that you took the picture," says Belcher. 

While his photography exhibits an absence of color, it is Belcher's absence from the New Mexico art mainstream for an entire decade that has been on the artistic community's mind.  While Belcher's work has appeared at sporadic times in various Santa Fe galleries, it isn't until now that he has resurfaced with the intent of reclaiming his spot as one of Santa Fe's photographic geniuses.  "I am ready to reclaim my connection to my work and continue on as an artist, "he said.  "I am looking forward to the opportunity to show a broader range of art reflecting my interests."

On December 2, Belcher will open his first solo show in a decade at Legends Santa Fe.  The exhibition entitled "Castles and the Sky" will feature never-before-seen works featuring his favorite subjects—the Galisteo, New Mexico skies and remnants of film location sets dating back to the 1980s as well as rare portraiture.

Belcher admits that while the subject matter is broad, perhaps an overall unifying theme might be that the quality of the printing of all the pieces shown are on par with each other. Belcher is a stickler for capturing an image that reflects exactly what he saw at the moment of snapping the photo.  His artistic defiance results in a painstaking developing process, in which Belcher may find two out of ten prints acceptable.

"As to the overall unity of the show, I am uncertain," Belcher said.  "While I don't know what the show in totality will convey, my hope is that it will allow people to focus on the subject or a feeling of their choice."  Belcher's hope is that the spectator will discover something completed unexpected in his photos--perhaps something that he didn't see or even mean to convey.  Regardless, Belcher contends that "storytelling is inevitable in a photograph."

"Castles and the Sky" will open on Legends Santa Fe on December 2 with an artist's reception from 5:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. and will run through the month of December.  Legends Santa Fe is located at 125 Lincoln Avenue.  For more information call 505-983-5689 or visit www.legendssantafe.com.

Seventeen Year-Old NYC Entrepreneur Starts Company That's Got Style & Giving Back in the 'Bag'

Personal style comes in many forms, and kids love to get into the act by creating distinctive accessory items that define who they are. At first Taylor Greenberg Goldy, now a 17 year-old high school senior in Manhattan, decorated tote bags and stuffed them with gifts. She then donated the bags to hospitals where children were being treated for cancer. Last year, at the Strike Out Pediatric Cancer Bowl-A-Thon, which her brother organized to benefit the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Greenberg Goldy worked with more than 60 volunteers to create 200 of her colorful bags. Once the bags were decorated and stuffed, she distributed them to children in local hospitals.

Soon the young entrepreneur realized that she could start her own company and sell kits that would enable other kids to design their own bags and raise money for charity at the same time. “Kids love to be creative and have something that no one else has,” said Greenberg Goldy. Thus, the Design-A-Bag craft kit was born, along with her company Charitotes of which she is now the President.

Design-A-Bag craft kits, which will officially be available in October, will come with a plain white canvas bag, stickers, stencils, a sketchbook, crayons, fabric markers and other materials that children can use to design their own tote bags. As part of the full roll-out of the product, the always on-her-toes Greenberg Goldy will offer a 12-pack kit that parents can use as favors for kids’ holiday and birthday parties as well as Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs.

What’s a girl to do when she wants to create a cool product that’s not only perfect for kids and tweens, but one that provides the younger set the opportunity to give back to others? In addition to the creation of her fashion-forward and environmentally-friendly gift item, Greenberg Goldy thought it was important to donate part of the profits to a cause close to her heart – the fight against pediatric cancer. As a result, 10% of sales from the kit will be donated to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

“Every day more and more gift items come into the marketplace, but do they really enrich our lives?” said Greenberg Goldy. “It is becoming more and more commonplace in our society to educate kids that it is better to give than receive. My goal was to develop a stylish product that was not only fun and creative for kids, but that would help someone else with every purchase. I can’t think of a more worthy cause than the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.”

Now at every party where Design-A-Bags are present, kids will learn that the true celebration is in helping others!

Design-A-Bag craft kits will be available for the suggested retail price of $20 and will be available for purchase starting October 1 at http://www.charitotes.com/. Greenberg Goldy is hopeful that the tote bag craft kits will be available at retailers nationwide by next year.

In the meantime, if you are attending the 2011 New York International Gift Fair, which will take place at the Jacob Javits Center from August 13-18, stop by booth #30004 to see samples and talk with Taylor Greenberg Goldy.

Spanish Art is Family Affair at Legends Santa Fe

For three Arizonians, making art is a family affair.  All working in the Classical style, R.M. Gurule does the sculpting and his wife Charmaine does the painting.  Craig Gurule also paints.  The trio of artists will have their skills showcased in Master Family: The Works of R.M. Gurule, Charmaine Gurule and Craig Gurule during Santa Fe's 2011 Spanish Market weekend at Legends Santa Fe located at 125 Lincoln Avenue near the historic Plaza.

From señoritas dancing flamenco and ballet folklórico, to matadors and Conquistadores in strong stances, Spanish culture will come to life for three days at Legends Santa Fe.  The show will open on Friday, July 29 with an artists' reception from 5:00 pm -7:30 pm.  It closes on Sunday, July 31. For more information visit the gallery online at http://www.legendssantafe.com/.  ¡Que vive el arte español!

Cristian Castro, Jose Jose, Ozomatli and Other Latin Music Stars Headline LULAC Immigration Reform Concert

On Saturday night in Albuquerque, New Mexico, several Latin music artists including Cristian Castro, Ozomatli, Jose Jose, Pee Wee and others came together in support of immigration reform. It was a night of passionate outcries against the current legislation in Arizona with original songs written expressly for the concert. “Voces Unidas” was sponsored by LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens), which held its annual national conference in Albuquerque this year. The concert took place at the relaxed and spacious Tingley Coliseum at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds.

I had the opportunity to stop by the sound check earlier in the day and was able to get some video of Cristian warming up and speak with Wil-Dog, guitarist and vocalist for the band Ozomatli which describes itself as “a notorious urban-Latino-and-beyond collision of hip hop and salsa, dancehall and cumbia, samba and funk, merengue and comparsa, East LA R&B and New Orleans second line, Jamaican raggae and Indian raga.”

It was a wonderful family-friendly concert.  The evening was laid back, kids and grandparents were dancing in the aisles to hot tunes, all the while coming together to make people aware of an important issue. Check out my video HERE:

Washington Art Association Represents Three Womens' 'Views' in New Exhibit

Obviously, as human beings, we all live in the same world, but our realities are vastly different. Reality for the individual is dictated by the unique experiences and circumstances that help to shape who we are. Therefore, we all perceive things from the side of our own reality.

In celebration of those wonderful differences and varying perspectives, the Washington Art Association in Washington Depot, Connecticut will present Different Views, selected works by Elizabeth Hazan, Erin Raedeke and Elinore Schnurr.

In Elizabeth Hazan's fluid state landscapes, "Geometric shapes emerge, radiate and collide, making new forms across the surface of the work," which creates the energy that the artist sees in the surrounding world, in man made and natural forms.

"I am interested in the ways a painting can be a manifestation of one's mind," says artist Erin Raedeke of her work. Raedeke assembles pieces of her environs and the life experiences that she remembers into still life paintings that "provide a concrete arena in which to explore" her thoughts and memories, "both conscious and latent."

I fell in love with the work of Elinore Schnurr, when she participated in an exhibit featuring women painters in New York City at Flushing Town Hall a couple of years ago. She is known for her contemplative and voyeuristic paintings, in which she depicts a snapshot in time--the view from the outside looking inward to the lives of people at urban bars and cafes. Meanwhile, the outer world is simultaneously reflected in windows. Typically, she sets her work in Times Square, where there is much interplay between both of these worlds. Schnurr says "...as we sip our wine and experience a certain self-satisfaction with our lives, troubles out there in the larger world haunt us. Intrusive thoughts, of terrorist acts, bombed-out buildings, random violence, the after-effects of war, come into our minds and become part of our reality."

Different Views opens on July 17 with a brookside reception from 4-6 p.m. at the Washington Art Association located at Bryan Memorial Plaza in Washington Depot, Connecticut. The paintings will be on exhibition through August 15. For more information, visit http://www.washingtonartassociation.org/ or call 860.868.2878.

Artist Purdy Corcoran 'Unmasks' Historical Truth to Top Anthropologists

You may be most familiar with Dolores Purdy Corcoran for her ledger art. As a matter of fact, she was the featured artist (the “poster child") for last weekend’s 2010 Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market and Festival in Indianapolis. While her ledger is very popular and highly sought by contemporary Native American art collectors, so are the masks that she creates from gourds. They are contemporary representations of masks found in burial mounds in the American Southeast, in particular Louisiana, East Texas and the Southern Plains. The Caddo were traders and obtained turquoise from the American Southwest as well as feathers from South America. Both of these elements appear in her work.

Purdy Corcoran, of Caddo and Winnebago descent, is extremely knowledgeable on the subject of the Mound Builder masks, but it came as a huge surprise and honor that she was recently asked to make a trip to Washington, D.C. to speak on the subject of Mound Builder masks, specifically about the so called “Crying Eye” motif found on many of them. For years, it has been believed that these were funerary masks with anguish as a focus, but Purdy Corcoran had the opportunity to set National Museum of the American Indian visitors and a prestigious group of anthropologists straight on the subject. It is now known that these masks actually depicted the “Falcon Eye” motif, which the artist discovered by studying ancient relief art and conferring with tribal elders. The Falcon Eye motif was more highly associated with tribal warriors and less with funerals.

At this year’s Native Treasures Indian Arts Festival in Sante Fe, New Mexico, I had the opportunity to talk to Dolores Purdy Corcoran about her masks and what it was like to dispel an anthropological myth in front of these experts. Watch the video HERE.

For more information on the artist visit http://www.dolorespurdycorcoran.com/.

One Night Only: Award-Winning Director & Choreographer Faison Stages Michael Jackson Tribute in Harlem

If you’re a Michael Jackson fan and are in Manhattan this coming Friday night, June 25, don’t forget to check out Leaving Neverland, a one night only tribute to the so-called "King of Pop" who died exactly a year ago. The show, which will take place at 8 p.m. at the Faison Firehouse Theatre, is the inspiration of Tony Award-winning director and choreographer George Faison, who worked with Jackson regularly as part of his theatre and music career.


Leaving Neverland is written by Quincy Troupe with Faison as Director. Musical direction is by Brian Whitted and stars Toni Seawright, Deborah Gregory, Daniel Carlton, Russell Ferguson, Kevin Hunte, Angel Morales and Mike Hammond.


The Faison Firehouse Theatre is located at 6 Hancock Place, West 124th Street, between St. Nicholas and Morningside Avenues in Harlem. Admission is $20. Visit http://www.faisonfirehouse.org/.

Marcus Wall: Chained to the Future/Unchained from the Past

It could be argued that Jemez Pueblo potter Marcus Wall comes from one of the most talented families working in Native American arts today.  The son of Fannie Loretto (Jemez/Laguna) and Stephen Wall (Chippewa/Seneca), the stepson of Laura Fragua-Cota, and the brother of Kathleen Wall and Adrian Wall, creating pottery comes as no surprise to him. After all, he learned pottery from his mother, and his sister taught him most of what he knows about style and technique. With all these mentors helping to shape a young potter, it's no wonder that Marcus wants to find his own niche and make a name for himself apart from a family full of already super-successful artists.While Marcus, who has been making pottery since his single digit years, started with smaller pieces such as figurines and koshares, he is taking his work to a whole new level that commercially is beginning to serve him very well. 

Enter the micaceous wedding vase.  Traditionally a symbol of engagement and formal marriage, Wall has turned that symbol into what his sister Kathleen refers to as a "mutual understanding vase."  This vase can function as a symbol of commitment for anyone in any kind of connected relationship, whether it be legal marriage or otherwise.  

His work is as delicate and beautiful as pottery found in the Taos tradition.  The artist says that he finds the clay and the work very masculine, but clearly he brings a warmth and thoughtfulness that makes the pieces appealing to all collectors.  Marcus, who learned how to work with micaceous clay from Kathleen, has added hand-crafted clay chain links to the vases, which give them a unique look that ineveitably sparks conversation about their meaning.

At the 2010 Native Treasures show in Santa Fe, Marcus took the time to chat about his work that is gaining him status as one of the up-and-coming new artists on the Native American pottery scene.  Check out my interview with him HERE:

Stephen Wall: Circuit-Venting the Norm in Native Arts with Techno-Dodems

Did you know that the word "totem" came from the word "dodem?"  In Ojibway, dodem refers "to the effigy or other symbol of a clan, family or social group that share a common ancestry or affiliation."  Totem was the name given them incorrectly by anthropologists.  I didn't know that, but sculpture artist Stephen Wall, Chippewa and Seneca, gave me the scoop and set me straight on that subject at the 2010 Native Treasures show in Santa Fe.

Father of Jemez Pueblo potters Kathleen and Marcus Wall, as well as Jemez sculptor Adrian Wall, Stephen Wall is a well-known artist in his own right and a member of of the faculty at IAIA in Santa Fe.  He has been creating jewelry and art for the better part of thirty years. 

He and his wife Laura Fragua-Cota developed the concept of the "Techno-Dodem" earlier in the decade.   In the artist's words, Techno-Dodems "represent the fusion of modern technology and neolithic sensibilities."   The incorporation of stone and woodwork with recycled components from phones, computers and other technological devices serves to create innovative, fun, and thought-provoking works of art.

WATCH a full interview with Stephen Wall about Techno-Dodems HERE:

Female Native American Ledger Artists Infuse Male-Dominated Art Form with Gentility and Humor

A few months ago, I attended the 2010 Heard Museum Guild's Indian Fair and Market in Phoenix.  As part of my successful "Heard @ The Heard 2010" blog series, I featured two of my favorite ledger artists Chris Pappan and Darryl Growing Thunder.  Afterwards, I received Facebook messages from Sheridan MacKnight and Dolores Purdy Corcoran--both female ledger artists--asking me when I was going to feature "us girls"on my blog.  I must be honest and say that I wasn't even aware that female ledger artists existed.  Needless to say, I stand corrected!

A while back, we all met in person at an exhibition opening party at Legends Santa Fe and decided that the 2010 Native Treasures show would be the perfect place to make that happen. So, this past Saturday, with camera in tow, I sat down with two of the top "chicks" working in Native American ledger art today--MacKnight (Chippewa and Lakota) and Purdy Corcoran (Caddo and Winnebago)--to talk about the art form, it's history,  how their work differs from their male counterparts' and their perspectives on how they fit into an area of Native art dominated by men. 

I was surprised to learn that women have been doing ledger art since the beginning of the 20th Century.  While a great deal of ledger art glorifies the past, these ladies' work honors tradition with reverence, but brings the form into the 21st Century with feminine beauty and softness, as well as humor. 

Enjoy the interview with MacKnight and Purdy Corcoran HERE.

Heard @ The Heard 2010: Getting the Inside Scoop on Seriagraph-Making with Coast Salish Artist Peter Boome

I have been an artist since I could pick up a Crayon and draw on the wall…I can’t remember ever not creating.”— Peter Boome, Coast Salish artist

Get me near Northwest Coast First Peoples’ art and I immediately become excited. Forget that I’m from the Northwest and forget that it was the first type of indigenous art that made me realize there was art outside of the performing world. First, it was the masks that attracted me, then it was sculpture, and then I became interested in handmade Northwest Coast jewelry.  In the last couple of years, I have been enjoying seriagraphs, which are hand-done screen prints. While the drama and the detailed work of the Northwest Coast tribal mask appealed to my senses, these beautiful hand-printed pieces are equally labor-intensive to create and dramatic.

Upon arriving in the Southwest, in an effort to learn more about my environs, I refocused my eye more on art of the pueblos in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe region. Having lived in New York between stints in the Pacific Northwest and now New Mexico, it never occurred to me that these two distinct art worlds would be so interconnected. It has been wonderful to go to SWAIA Indian Market and the Heard Museum Guild’s Indian Fair and Market and feel like I’m home by meeting Northwest Coast and Alaskan artists.

Peter Boome, currently a resident of University Place, Washington, is a member of the Upper Skagit Tribe and works in the Coast Salish style. Now a law student and a father of four, Boome focuses most of his time these days on his seriagraphs rather than on carving. There are many Northwest Coast artists working with seriagraphs, but, in my opinion, Boome creates some of the most beautiful Northwest Coast images I have ever seen.

With the rising costs involved with making and selling original art, Boome and his wife Lois formed their company (Araquin, also the name of their son) with the idea of creating high-quality art in larger numbers that people could actually afford.

Boome uses a hand-drawn stencil and then layers colors to create the desired effect for his seriagraphs. The artist stays true to his culture by depicting only images derived from his region, but if he hears a particular story that appeals to him, he is likely to tell it in his own way through art.

Peter Boome was kind enough to let me shoot some images and talk briefly to me about his work at the 2010 Heard Museum Guild’s Indian Fair and Market. Watch the video HERE.

Heard @ The Heard 2010: Distinctively Fashionable Native Designer Pilar Agoyo

“ I mainly work in vinyl, a little bit of leather as well, but...for some reason, it’s a lot of vinyl.”—Pilar Agoyo, Native fashion designer

Pilar Agoyo is one of my favorite new artists. My background is in fashion PR, and it is always easy for me to appreciate someone with a unique vision.

While I have heard her name uttered several times from friends we have in common, Pilar and I met for the first time last weekend at the 2010 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend last month's successful fashion show “Thunder Run” in which she participated at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino.  I was thrilled, however, when I found out Pilar was showing her designs at the Heard. My friends who know and have worked with her love and respect her. Native American jewelry collectors might also know her because she is the wife of master silversmith Cody Sanderson.

Pilar’s fashions have been called many things—“cutting edge”, “goth”, “punk”, “chic”, “elegant” and even “risqué”. Based on the pieces I saw at the Heard show, I would even add to that a little “retro.”  However you label her style, the fact remains clear that Pilar is cool, calm, collected, well-spoken and adorable, in my opinion. She is very approachable and I was excited that she was willing to talk to me about her designs on camera.

Perhaps my favorite thing about Pilar is that she costume designs for film. She shared that many of her collections come to her as a result of working on a particular project. This is inevitable, since films, especially period pieces, require such attention to detail.  These images fill a designer’s mind and are hard to let go of. The day we spoke, Pilar was showing a dress that was made of a wool plaid embellished with vinyl leaves—very cool!

Remarkably, Pilar chooses not to use the traditional clothing pattern, rather, she cuts and lets a piece become whatever it may. She is also known for her unconventionality when it comes to her materials of choice. In addition to utilizing a hodge podge of textiles including silk and velvet, Pilar makes pieces her own with everyday items such as newspapers, masking tape, hangers and more. Green before it was hip to be green, Pilar explains that she embraced this design philosophy while still in college. Aren’t we glad she did!

Get to know Pilar by watching my video interview with her on the closing day of the 2010 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market here.