INSIDE NMAI


........................ NATIVE ART MARKET IN DC BY L I S A M. AUST IN B


eautiful holiday items for a vari- ety of shoppers will be on view during the first weekend of De- cember in the Potomac Atrium of the National Museum of the American Indian. An even 40


Native artists from communities from across the western hemisphere will gather to share their pieces and stories at the annual Winter Art Market. Among them will be jewelers, tex- tile artists, potters and photographers. Here are a few of our artists:


EUGENE TAPAHE (Navajo)


Eugene Tapahe, a Navajo photographer in Provo, Utah, is never alone when he heads out to photograph the splendor of Mother Earth. “When I go on a photo shoot, I take my family and feel the spirit of those who came before me, my ancestors... I can feel their love and blessings when I photograph places they once walked.” Driven by a conviction that he has a spiri-


tual and personal gift to capture images of his Native ancestors’ land, he travels the South- west to document scenes that remind us of the deep and enduring connection between people and the earth. Tapahe believes that the world is in a healing process, and his art is his way of contributing to that. Through his images and the stories they tell, he hopes to influence younger generations to respect and care for Mother Earth.


DURAN GASPER (Pueblo of Zuni)


Duran Gasper is from Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico. A third generation jeweler, he is a silversmith who uses traditional methods to create jewelry using stones from around the world. He originally trained to be a painter and studied color theory, which he uses when designing his jewelry. During his time work- ing with Ray Tracy, he was asked to do the in- lay for the Miss Navajo Nation crown. When


50 AMERICAN INDIAN WINTER 2015


Photography by Eugene Tapahe (Navajo).


PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ARTISTS


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