BALANCE
BALANCE
Ponderosa Pine swayed with the slightest breeze throughout Kinłani (Many Buildings : Flagstaff, AZ).
As Diiłchíi'ii Dził (Abalone Shell Mountain : San Francisco Peaks) perched over The Museum Of Northern Arizona where the Heritage Festival of Arts and Culture gathering took place. The two day festival honored nearly 100 Indigenous artists from tribes near and far from the Colorado Plateau.
Natural hue fabrications, mixed adorned metals, meticulous bead-work, vibrant acrylics, and elemental pottery graced the surrounding.
We had the opportunity to meet seven Indigenous artisans during the festival and admire their works of art.
Lightning arrows illuminated as sunlight struck Jeff DeMent’s (Diné) Tufa cast jewelry.
From military combat to bringing beauty with a sense of peace into the world through his traditional Diné silversmith work. DeMent draws inspiration from Diné mythology, The Hero Twins; as well as from his surroundings.
Each piece carrying the weight of harmony, protection, and power. Three pieces being adaptable and could be worn as a necklace pendant or concho. Nizhoni! (Beautiful!)
“Turquoise & silver for the modern day warrior”
I saw PERSUASION,
but read SUBMISSON.
High fashion + iconic imagery + homoerotica + common logos x Indigenous elements = Ronald S. Begaye’s (Diné) visionary masterpieces.
Hues of color beautifully complimented Begaye’s pop-art style.
Our favorite pieces being the most questioned by others, of course.
Pop Goes the Easel.
“I know the paintings I do certainly aren’t always that of a Navajo painter
People need to try & understand that I’m really just more open and out about who I’ am and where I want to go
god forbid”
Mirroring the CHAOS was softer and SFW masterpieces. Again the modern contemporary art mixed with Indigenous flare.
Balance.
Begaye having grown up in a creative household is no stranger to Indigenous or contemporary art.
“I would say since the 1990’s I’ve been doing this professionally” says Begaye.
The Heritage Festival of Arts and Culture being his first event in a decade.
Welcome back! Now show the world your POPART FANTASIES.
Exquisite and edged wearble fine art enriched Matagi Sorensen’s (Apache) booth. Sorensen diligently filing at a piece, giving it’s form.
Working while working. A talent most artisans can relate to.
Each one of Sorensen’s accessories expressing a unparalleled finish.
Liquefiable yet dense.
Balance.
Swift tones of acrylic paints graced David K John’s (Diné) surrounding.
John’s capability to bring masked dancers to this world through his art mediums is astonishing.
Yeii’s (Holy People) are represented by masked dancers during the Nightway Ceremony.
A way of life for younger John as his cheii (grandpa) and cheii’saani (great grandpa) partook in the ceremonies.
A form of remembrance in each brush stroke, as each mask and symbol hold a power of healing and life.
Sand and clay textured art forms were easy on the eyes.
Gradient but graceful.
Balance.
Many-hued Rabbit Brush woven through Dunebroom was a head-turner.
The skill from Hotevilla’s wicker basketry weaver, Jessica Lomatewama (Hopi).
A butterfly emerged from within a woven bowl. Encircled by the corn and rainbow pattern.
The sun pattern radiating in a vibrant blue with exposed Dunebroom stems resembling the sun’s rays.
Forty years of basketry knowledge can be found in her artistry.
Lomatewama harvests all her materials needed for the basketry, but says it’s getting difficult to source some greenery due to the absence of rain.
Parallel to her baskets, lay Hopi Katsina dolls. Created by Jessica’s son, Justin Lomatewama. Each doll intricately brought to life using the pre-Spaniard colonization technique.
No carving, no adhesives, no commercial paints.
Only natural fiber binding, vegetal created paints, and sandstone used to sand the Cottonwood root.
Elegant creations that also carry knowledge and prayer.
Pastel colored stained glass blushed as the sunlight danced.
LaRae Sangster (Diné) utilizes stories her mother and auntie would share with her.
Sangster is able to commemorate matriarchal memories within her contemporary stained glass art.
Diné textile and basketry patterns found in a new medium.
With only three years of experience Sangster’s capability to create these works of art is amazing.
Not only was it amazing to see the stained glass, but the three dimensional fiber and metal elements as well.
Wool and cone shaped metals brought her pieces to life.
As the day came to end that’s all the time we had.
We’ll be seeing more of these artists in HOZHO MAGAZINE in the future.
Ahe'hée nistáago (Thank you very much!) to the seven artisans who were apart of this.
Somewhere between this world and the next,
Ashkii Sneez
ARTIST’S SOCIALS
Jeff DeMent: jeff_dement
Ronald S. Begaye: rsb0160@gmail.com
Matagi Sorensen: matagifineart
David K John: david.k.john
Jessica Lomatewama: -
Justin Lomatewama: -
LaRae Sangster: navi.haz.art