Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian
Expressing spiritual strength
The works of neo-impressionist Shonto Begay “visually narrate his connection to the Navajo landscape,” according to the introduction to his new exhibit, Shonto Begay: Eyes of the World. Whether rendering images of everyday life or a spectacular landscape, he offers a visual connection to the spirit world as a healing journey. Though his art portrays the beauty of his physical world, critics have noted that it fights against romanticism and acknowledges the harsh realities of modern reservation life. One of 16 children, Begay was forced to attend government boarding schools. He survived “partly because of my spiritual strength and retreat into my drawings. I was always drawing. ‘Arts save lives’ has been my mantra ever since. Some people did not survive like me. They are walking traumas of my generation.” Begay moved beyond mere survival. He continued his education, earning an AFA at IAIA in Santa Fe and a BFA from the California College of Arts. Begay speaks to audiences of all ages about the importance of education and embracing cultural backgrounds. This exhibit shares “his eyes of the world” through Oct. 10, 2021
Border women matter
In the timely and provocative exhibit Indigenous Women: Border Matters, four artists explore how women interact with the land they inhabit on both sides of the border. The artists are Makaye Lewis (Tohono O’odham), Daisy Quezada Urena (Mexican American), M. Jenea Sanchez (Latinx) and Gabriela Munoz (Latinx). Lewis says, “I find discomfort in knowing the many issues that arise when an imaginary political line leaves half my reservation in the United States and half in Mexico.” The exhibit begins with a video featuring Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez of New Mexico’s third congressional district, who praises artists for “holding our collective memories.” Works include large monotypes, including Border Patrol images; installations representing the power to build futures; and serigraphs of “brown on brown” faces. The exhibit runs through Oct. 3, 2021.