Heard @ the Heard 2011: Iconic Artist Benjamin Harjo, Jr. Shows His "Layers" in Berlin Gallery Group Show Opening 4/15

What I find fun about going to art shows is that there is always an opportunity to connect with artists who are new to my art lexicon--I'm constantly learning and I love it!  What's more amazing is that many of these artists have had lifelong, high-profile careers, and when you first meet them, you'd never know.  Some are as humble as they day they entered the marketplace.  That's always refreshing.

One such artist is Benjamin Harjo, Jr.  Having spent almost a half of a century training and working as a master of pen and ink, a painter and block print maker, Harjo is one of the most recognizable and respected artists working in Native American fine art.  His work has graced posters, is housed in museums, and exists in private collections all over the world.  None of this, however, has gone to his head. Harjo understands the ebbs and flows of the art world and "the abuse" that artists take when it comes to selling their work.  Luckily, he has cultivated a loyal group of friends and regular collectors who find inspiration in his art and want to see him flourish.  Whereas, many visual artists don't attend "booth" shows such as the Heard Museum Guild's Indian Fair and Market, Harjo consistently participates in them. The season runs from March to November, so he is always busy.  That's when he's not working on a commission.  He contends that some years the shows will be good for him, and other years it will be good for other artists. It's just the way things are.

Tonight, Benjamin Harjo, Jr. opens in a group show at the Heard Museum's Berlin Gallery entitled Layers: Sarah Sense + Frank Buffalo Hyde + Benjamin Harjo, Jr.  While his counterparts in the show are considerably younger, they are also edgy and hip.  The inclusion of his work is a testament to the agelessness of Harjo's paintings and drawings.  The exhibition, which runs through May 16, highlights works by the three artists that "reveal the layering of either ideas or processes to create their own unique vision, the end result multi-layered works that explore new territories of definition." 

Ironically, and completely unaware of the upcoming exhibition at the Heard's Berlin Gallery, I had the opportunity to interview Harjo last month for my "Heard @ the Heard 2011" series at the 53rd Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market.  So, it makes complete sense that things come full circle and I end my series with this iconic master artist, who talked to me about his award-winning Heard submission piece as well as his influences, on the day of his opening! 

Watch the video interview with Benjamin Harjo, Jr. HERE:

Legends Santa Fe Gallery Featured on "New Mexico Style"

If you missed Leslie May of Legends Santa Fe gallery on KASA Fox 2's "New Mexico Style" morning show, you can now watch it online. The show gave viewers an opportunity to see some fabulous art and learn why now, even in a downturn economy, is the best time to buy art and support artists, especially emerging artists--tomorrow's legends!

Leslie talked about Nocona Burgess, Sarah Sense, Randall Blaze, Jody Naranjo and more!  Watch the segment HERE:

Heard @ the Heard 2011: Haida-Tlingit Basketry by Gianna Willard & Diane Douglas-Willard

Since my family lives in the Pacific Northwest, my first exposure to indigenous art was that of the Northwest Coast.  It was in Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. that I fell in love with the easily-recongnizable symbology of red and black button blankets and the phenomenal mask work that incorporates cedar, alderwood, horsehair, abalone shell and more. 

Of late, I have been very interested in learning about basketry in general, so when I met Gianna Willard and Diane Douglas-Willard of Ketchikan, Alaska, I was so excited.  Not only are they lovely and open people, but their work is some of the finest you will find.  Gianna (Haida-Tlingit), who is Diane's daughter, has only been making cedar bark hats for a year, but the workmanship shows a lifetime exposure to basket making.   The 53rd Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market was Gianna's first Native American art show ever.   She was a little nervous to do an interview at first, but she jumped right in and did a fabulous job!

Diane Douglas-Willard is a Haida basket maker, who was born in Bellingham, Washington.  Diane, who has taken "First Place" and "Best in Division" at SWAIA Indian Market in Santa Fe,  incorporates traditional basketry with contemporary designs.  She utlizes both yellow and red cedar bark in addition to wax linen to achieve her unique style of work. 

Both mother and daughter took the time from selling at the Heard show to talk to me about their work and the painstaking process of getting materials ready to weave their museum-quality pieces.

Watch my video interview with Gianna Willard and Diane Douglas-Willard HERE:

Heard @ the Heard 2011: Marla Allison & Paintings Born of Two Worlds

"I paint and create for Laguna's history to be great and remembered.  I paint because I was passed down a gift from my grandfathers..." --Marla Allison

 Every once-in-a-while I meet an artist with whom I feel very connected.  When that happens, I usually go around telling people that that's my "favorite new artist."  It usually has to do with a combination of elements--obviously their talent, but also their spirit and willingness to be open and share information about their lives with me.

Visual artist, Marla Allison, who hails from Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico, is one of those people.  From the minute I met her for the first time at the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market's "Best of Show" gala in Phoenix, I was taken with her.  Her gentle voice and sincere interest in others is particularly alluring.  The following day, when I had the opportunity to see her work, I was even more excited to get to know her.

Marla Allison's story is a very unique one.  She has been participating in the Heard show for the last five years and has been represented by the Berlin Gallery, affiliated with the Heard Museum.  But, it was last year that she was approached by Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe about having her as one of their artists. It was all very casual, but has had anything but a casual effect on her work and career.  Afterall, Blue Rain is, dare I say, the Holy Grail of art galleries for a growing Native American artist. 

Both Laguna and Anglo, Allison walks in two worlds, like many of her artistic contemporaries.  Her influences are all around her and she makes ample use of them, whether it's interpreting in paint the work of Laguna master photographer Lee Marmon, depicting scenes from her Laguna homeland, or creating representational work that tells the story of the two worlds in which she lives.  

Marla spoke freely to me about her artistic influences and gives some clear ideas of what it is like to be an artist participating in the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market. Watch my interview with Marla Allison HERE:

Legends Santa Fe Makes Move to New Gallery Space Just in Time For Art Buying Season



"Intertribal Texting LMAO" by Frank Buffalo Hyde



Legends Santa Fe, a gallery whose mission is to positively develop Native American artists, is hosting a Grand Reopening party this Friday, April 1 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to celebrate its move to a new, larger space located at 125 Lincoln Avenue.   The move comes just before the start of the spring/summer art buying season.  The new location is just one-half block from the historic Santa Fe Plaza, and is situated on the east side of the street next to the New Mexico History Museum.

In addition to refreshments, the evening will feature works of art by its resident artists Nocona Burgess, Carol Hagan, Jody Naranjo, Ryan Singer, Frank Buffalo Hyde, Stephen Wood, Adrian Wall and more.

Legends' Gallery Director and business partner Leslie May said “While we loved our previous space, we felt we could not pass up this opportunity to provide a better showcase for our artists in this dynamic location. Since we have made the transition to the new space, everyone has been incredibly supportive. We could not be happier.”

The new Legends Santa Fe 2,700 square-foot space is housed on one level, providing visitors a more comprehensive view of its collection of artwork by some of the Native American art world’s finest contemporary artists. With the new open and expansive street frontage location, the gallery can benefit from the foot traffic on Lincoln Avenue and visitors will have immediate access to all works of art by the gallery’s artist roster. The new Legends Santa Fe also has ample space and a flow that is perfect for events and openings.

So, if you're in Santa Fe on Friday (and who wouldn't want to be in Santa Fe?), stop by the gallery to check out the new space and the cool art.  If you can't make it out, the gallery’s regular operating hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information, visit http://www.legendssantafe.com/.

Heard @ the Heard 2011: Pottery Innovator Harrison Begay, Jr.

Award-winning Diné (Navajo) potter Harrison Begay, Jr. does amazing work. His skill lies in creating pots with interesting shapes that are deeply incised and polished. In addition to being a master polisher, Begay is highly skilled at ensuring that the cuts in his work are consistent throughout the piece. For those who don’t know about Pueblo pottery, Santa Clara pots are hand-coiled, incised with the designs, and then coated with a red clay slip (liquid clay). Just before the slip dries, the artist will take river stones to polish the pot. Pit-firing completes the process, which, in the case of Santa Clara pots, can result in the pot’s black or red color. It all depends on how long the pot is fired.

What makes Begay unique is that he learned traditional Santa Clara style while living in the pueblo, located just north of Santa Fe. Begay, who is considered to be one of the Native American pottery world’s innovators, mostly utilizes designs from Navajo culture. In addition to creating traditional red and black Santa Clara pots, Begay also is making a name for himself with distinctive brown-fired pots. The end result is all in the timing of the firing.

I always speak about the idea of “accessibility” of Native American artists and their art—a very special aspect of living in the American Southwest. With a true zest for life, Begay is very friendly and accessible. An interaction with him is a moment to be cherished for a lifetime.

This year at the 2011 Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market, I had the opportunity to ask him about his process, his influences and how the economy has affected him and the Native American artist community at large. Watch my interview with this genuine and soft-spoken artist HERE:

Heard @ the Heard 2011: Tufa Cast Jewelry Design Duo Denipah-LaRance

When I think of ubertalented and genuinely nice, I think of the Denipah-LaRances.  Steve Wikviya LaRance (from Moenkopi on the Hopi Reservation) and Marian Denipah (Diné--Navajo and Tewa--San Juan Pueblo Ohkay Owingeh) are the husband and wife jewelry design team that specializes in Tufa cast jewelry.  Tufa stone, a soft volcanic stone, is carved and used to create a cast for silver or gold with a truly distinctive look.  Denipah and LaRance both started making tufa cast jewelry more than 15 years ago and have become two of the most recognizable faces on the Native American art show circuit.

From dragonflies to crosses to corn, rain and water symbols, Denipah and LaRance create gorgeous works in silver and gold embellished with quality stones in traditional and contemporary styles.  While the recession has impacted their business, the artists are weathering the economic storm by using social media to market their work to collectors. They have also been going international in terms of where they show their work, participating in shows around the world in Japan, Germany and British Columbia.   With rising silver and gold prices also impacting their sales and ability to make a great deal of pieces, the Flagstaff, Arizona-based designers have decided to make quality, higher-priced pieces utlizing quality stones to appeal to higher-tiered collectors.



Courtesy Cirque du Soleil



The Denipah-LaRance household is full of talent. They have provided their children with an environment where they could learn painting, sculpture as well as jewelry-making and the kids have made the most of it.  They also have become accomplished dancers.  Their son Nakotah, age 21,  became a champion hoop dancer and is now a principal dancer in Cirque do Soleil's Native American-themed Totem, which is currently touring the United States.  He is also the poster child for the show.

Marian Denipah and Steve LaRance took the time from selling at the 53rd Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market in Phoenix to talk to me for my "Heard @ the Heard 2011" series. 

Watch my video interview with this dynamic design duo HERE: