INSIDE NMAI
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delier earrings and her “Genetic Memory” series that has grown out of her connection with the history of the Shawnee and her fam- ily. The items are dress shapes of stamped silver with horsehair signifying both the importance of the horse to the Shawnee and human hair – hair that carries our DNA, our genetic memory. She says, “Woodland themes of flora and fauna play a big part in many of my jewelry designs, and like all Native people before me, I am eager to use modern materials to make new and exciting art forms.”
PORFIRIO GUTIERREZ
Porfirio Gutierrez, Zapotec from Mexico, is thrilled to bring his family’s textile work to the East Coast. “Fifty years ago, everyone in my village was doing traditional weaving but now my family is one of the last. My family and I are extremely proud that our art is 100 percent authentic and true to our Zapotec tra- ditions,” he says. Natural dyes are used on the yarn that they spin themselves and weave by hand on their looms. People often comment on the natural plant palette and the color combinations that are not seen with chemi- cal dyes. Visitors can touch a piece and love the softness and fineness of the wool. He can tell you the meanings of the symbols and the stories in each weaving. “I think people who appreciate folk art are very excited to find art that is made entirely by hand, using all natural plant and cochineal insect dyes,” he says. “Our art comes from our heart and soul.”
STEVE LA RANCE
Steve La Rance is Hopi from Ohkay Owingeh, N.M., and his jewelry includes cuff bracelets and pendants. Recently he has been exploring and creating new works using the “lost wax” method, which he incorporated into some of his tufa-cast pieces. A lot of thought goes into each piece. A ring might take several days, but bracelets and other larger items could take weeks to complete. For a commissioned piece, he might take months to obtain the uniquely high-grade materials before beginning his work. His work has taken La Rance and his wife Marian around the world. In each loca- tion they visit local museums, galleries and art studios. Each visit reinvigorates their designs and pushes them creatively.
44 AMERICAN INDIAN WINTER 2014
CHARLENE HOLY BEAR
Charlene Holy Bear, Standing Rock Sioux from Rapid City, S.D., travels extensively to showcase her work. She will show new beaded items along with her forte, her dolls. “I started creating beautiful beaded wearable art as a cre- ative outlet from the dolls and I was surprised how popular it was. The Lakota people have always had a rich, vibrant and ingenious abil- ity to create incredible works of material art that to this day have influenced and inspired me to be as awesome as the grandmothers and grandfathers who worked with only sinew,
awls and what the creator provided.” .......................
The Native Art Market will be held on Sat-
urday, Dec. 6 and Sunday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Admission is free. There will be a Member Preview from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5. X
Leonda Levchuk (Navajo) is the public affairs officer for the National Museum of the American Indian.
Beadwork by Charlene Holy Bear (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe).
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