Monthly Archives: September 2011
Sur-Mound-ing Obstacles For Artistic Exploration with Public Donations
Two Native American art scholars and artists will explore ancient burial mounds in the United States to do just that–gain understanding.
What if you could help them? Well, it’s funny because now you can. On Saturday, September 10, America Meredith, Swedish-Cherokee painter and great, great niece of legendary cowboy and actor Will Rogers, and Choctaw-Hopi artist Linda Lomahaftewa will take off on an amazing journey through the ancient Southeastern Woodlands.
The purpose of the trip is to connect with the lands of their people that they have heard about all of their lives. The two artists will also sketch and photograph approximately twenty mound sites, which will become subjects for works in two exhibitions–one at Tribes 131 Fine Art and Gift Gallery in Oklahoma and another at Ahalenia Studio in Santa Fe in May 2012. The photographs will also be posted online for other educators and artists to use in their research.
Now through September 27, you can help these ladies fulfill their passion by donating as little as a dollar to their cause on the Exploring Ancient Southeastern Woodlands project site located on Kickstarter.com. You can also follow America and Linda as they post updates about their journey.
Watch a video interview with the artists/educators HERE:
2011 SWAIA Indian Market: Layering the Past in Beads with Emil Her Many Horses
Laura Cardenas: Putting the ‘Arte’ in Jewelry Design
If you live in the Phoenix, Santa Fe, or Albuquerque areas, you might be familiar with the jewelry of designer Laura Cardenas. She started her company ArteSania five years ago after she began making jewelry for herself that appealed to her own sense of style. Since then, she has been taking the art show circuit by storm with her beautiful chunky bracelets, pendants and rings inspired by her native Ecuador. From shells to indigenous stones to horsehair weavings encased in sterling silver, designs by Laura Cardenas inspire and bring the natural beauty of South America to admirers of her jewelry. Her work is carried by galleries throughout the United States and South America as well as online at http://www.artesaniajewelry.com/.
Check out my interview with Laura Cardenas HERE:
2011 SWAIA Indian Market: Doll Maker Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty
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Detail of Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty’s Award-Winning Piece |
Every year at SWAIA Indian Market, I have a new favorite artist. This year it is is Assiniboine Sioux doll maker, bead and quill worker Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty. In addition to her breathtaking art work, Juanita is also one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. It was by chance that I ended up at her booth at the 2011 SWAIA Indian Market, and she warmly welcomed me under the white tent to talk to me about her work and her family’s history participating in Indian Market. She has been juried into the show for the last 26 years, and is a protege of her award-winning mother and collaborator Joyce Growing Thunder.
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Joyce Growing Thunder |
This year, Juanita won “Best of Division” and “First Place” in the “Diverse Arts” category for her soft sculpture Native American riding a horse adorned in full regalia. She was so kind to let me film her piece, photograph it in detail and talk to me about what went into making this award-winning exquisite work of art.
Watch my interview with Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty HERE: