ON THE COVER
ART DIRECTION VIRGIL ORTIZ (COCHITI PUEBLO)
A Women’s ReVOlution
SPECIAL EVENTS 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15 Artist Alliance: Nation of Creation
This immersive experience features unique multimedia collaborations with cuttingedge artists: Ben Jackal, Daniel and Foster Romano, Sam Chung, Scott Johnson, Augusta Smith, Kamden Storm and more.
3-5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16 Virgil Ortiz: Odyssey of the Venutian Soldiers
Faced with the nuclear devastation of their pueblo, these futuristic herculean superheroes search for a new homeland. See new traditional clay works and neverbefore-released paintings and watercolors.
Aug. 15-17
Mingle with exhibiting artists, learn about their techniques and take part in interactive art demos. Get daily event updates on Instagram: @virgilortiz.
ALL EVENTS AT reVOlt Showroom
130 Lincoln Ave., Suite I (upper level) Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily from Saturday, Aug. 10, through Sunday, Aug. 18. virgiloritz.com; 424-259-1685
ARTIST STATEMENT
My creative journey this year began with an artist residency at Colorado College’s Fine Arts Center, with a focus on clay works, fashion, photography and painting. For Indian Market 2019, the debut of reVOlt Showroom will feature an expansion of my most recent collection and unique new collaborations with exceptional artists Ben Jackel, Daniel and Foster Romano, Sam Chung, Scott Johnson, Jonathan Dankenbring, John Pagliaro, Augusta Smith, Kamden Storm and John Vokoun. The span of the creative process is unlimited, and I’m excited to share my artistic vision.
Resilience. Tenacity. Purpose. Courage. Empowerment.
Renowned Cochiti Pueblo artist Virgil Ortiz has viewed women in this light throughout his lifetime, in large part due to his mother’s vigorous nurturing and unyielding love. Growing up in a matriarchal society meant that Ortiz was immersed in community, strength, connection, stability, vitality, creativity, security, ceremony and tradition guided by fearless females. He often recounts the lessons and experiences shared by the female family members who shaped his worldview and his outlook on life. It’s no surprise that the presence of women in all facets of Ortiz’s work is both intentional and natural. For more than a decade, the artist has worked on fully developing his Pueblo Revolt 1680/2180 Stories in Clay series to highlight the character Tahu, who embodies the teachings Ortiz received from Cochiti women in his youth. His interpretation of women’s role in the Pueblo Revolt more than 300 years ago emphasizes their wisdom and heroics — much like present-day women warriors fighting for equal pay and against the “missing and murdered Indigenous women” epidemic. Many of the futuristic aspects of Ortiz’s clay works, depicting life 500 years after the Pueblo Revolt, imagine the durable influence of women’s culture, history, fearlessness and unlimited thriving. Through his artistic lens, Ortiz is intent on shining light on the hope and determination women continually model, and he recognizes the benefit that partnerships and alliances can contribute to ongoing empowerment platforms. His creative journey in the past year has resulted in an expanded collection of clay works, fashion, photography and paintings.