Hello everyone! I’m back and better than EVER! This month we have another national day that is worth talking about: National Native American Heritage Day. In the spirit of the day (November 25th this year), lets highlight Native American artists!
Artist Jaune Quick-to-See Smith is a prolific Native American artist of Salish, French Cree and Shoshone ancestry who founded artists’ groups, curated exhibitions, and organized protests over concerns for indigenous lands and people. Graduating in 1976 from Framingham State College (my alma mater, go Rams!) with a BA in Art Education, Smith later received her MFA in art from the University of New Mexico where she eventually settled. Smith’s works utilize Native American myths in the context of issues indigenous people face. Utilizing both painting and printmaking, Smith uses abstract forms, commercial slogans, rough drawings, and collage elements to create colorful and highly textured works. She has lectured at over 185 universities, museums, and conferences worldwide and has been included in the collections of the Museum of Mankind, National Museum of Women in the Arts, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Smith College, National Museum of American Art, Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of American Art among many others.
Another Native American artist is Cara Romero, a photographer of Chemehuevi ancestry and wife of fellow Pueblo artist Diego Romero. Romero studied Cultural Anthropology at the University of Houston, later studying photography at the Institute of American Indian Arts and Oklahoma State University. Romero was influenced by artist Edward Curtis early on in her career, which later led to her developing her own style utilizing photoshop, digital tools, and adding more colors overall. Many of her works combine identifiable Native American imagery and combines it with modern backdrops. Her work, Arla Lucia, depicts an indigenous woman dressed in a Wonder Woman costume adorned with a beaded necklace and feather headdress. Winka and the Windmills, depicts an indigenous man wearing sunglasses walking towards the camera while rows of windmills tower in the background. A collection of her works depict Native American women posed like dolls in packaging with accessories arranged around them. Not only has her works been part of numerous exhibitions, but she is also an active member of her community. Cara was the first Executive Director of the Chemehuevi Cultural Centre, an elected member of the Chemehuevi Tribal Council until 2010, became the Chairman of the Chemehuevi Education Board, and is the Chairman of the Chemehuevi Early Education Policy Council.
This Native American Heritage Day, be sure to explore indigenous artists and show them some love! If you are interested in Native American textiles, check out our January 9th Decorative Art Auction, we have two beautiful Navajo blankets crossing the block!
