Phenomena
Eleven premier Native American artists come together for a celebration of traditional and contemporary art at King Galleries.
SANTA FE, NM
Eleven premier Native American artists will come together for King Galleries’ celebration of traditional and contemporary art on August 16 and 17. The exhibition, titled Phenomena, features new pieces from these award-winning artists. Included in the show will be pots from Nathan Youngblood, Tammy Garcia, Les Namingha, Steve Lucas, Daniel Begay, Juan de la Cruz, Al Qoyawayma, Virgil Ortiz and Autumn Borts, as well as baskets by Jeremy
Frey and buffalo carvings and jewelry by
Kevin Pourier—both of whom are new to the gallery.
“It is an extraordinary group of artists in one show with a diversity of artwork, style and techniques,” says gallery owner Charles
S. King. “We are excited and honored to have them in the gallery and present some of the most dynamic Native art being made today. Carved, coiled, painted or woven, the work speaks to the artists’ creativity and culture.”
One of Namingha’s works for the exhibition is Four Seasons, which features his signature colorful acrylic paint on the native clay. “The inspiration came from viewing ancient and historic Hopi pottery,” he says. “The unique coloring and composition evolved through experimentation.”
Garcia’s Dragonfly Bowl will also be on view.
“The dragonfly symbolizes change in many cultures,” she explains. “I am familiar with carving on the outside of a bowl. My great-great-grandmother
Serafina Tafoya would scallop the rim of her water jars, representing raindrops.”
Another work with dragonfly imagery is Pourier’s carved buffalo horn 17 Dragonflies. “I was told by one of our elders once to ‘pay attention to everything.’ Since hearing that I noticed more and more that things would come to me,” Pourier says. “Today, I honor those little things in my art I overlooked for so long and
that seem to always be around me. The butterflies and dragonfly always show themselves to me.”
Frey’s new piece for the exhibition is titled Traditions, and marks the beginning of the inevitable change in his artwork as the emerald ash borer continues its destruction of ash trees. “I have to transition what I do in the medium while keeping with my traditional and tribal roots,” Frey says. “What I am doing at the gallery show is going from ash to the lack thereof. It’s the transition of my work to the next change, and it’s the first time I’m able to do anything publicly with my ideas.” Traditions, made with ash, cedar bark and synthetic dyes, is the first of his new version of the traditional ash basket, with his pieces eventually becoming about the expiration of material and design.
Phenomena will be on view at the gallery on August 16 from 3 to 5 p.m., and the following day, August 17, from 1 to 3 p.m., there will be pottery demos with Youngblood and Qoyawayma.