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westernartgirlThe Honesty of a Child’s Voice
The little girl is five years old when her mother takes her on a bus ride across the West to see her Papi (who may or may not be her father, but loves her nonetheless, after his own fashion)–but we know from the very beginning this is no family vacation. Far from it. The mother … Read more
Kateri Tekakwitha Canonization Confirms a Longstanding Indigenous Tradition
Native American Christians have a special reason to celebrate this holiday season. One among them who lived in the 17th century was canonized as a saint by Pope Benedict XVI in October. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, in life a young Mohawk/Algonquin woman who began Catholic instruction in secret because of her family’s opposition to the teachings, … Read more
Sen. Daniel Inouye Remembered
The remembrances for Senator Daniel Inouye, the veteran Democratic lawmaker from Hawaii, have been flooding the media since his death earlier this week at age 88. He is particularly esteemed in the Native American community for his advocacy on behalf of initiatives to protect Native American heritage, such as the Native American Graves Protection and … Read more
Shelby Tisdale Talks American Indian Art
We had a chance recently to chat with Shelby Tisdale, the Autry’s new vice president for curatorial and exhibitions, about what trends and developments she sees in Native American art. Tisdale will talk about American Indian art collecting at this weekend’s American Indian Arts Marketplace, scheduled for November 3 and 4. Before coming to the … Read more
Russell Means, Native American Rights Activist
Russell Means, the often controversial Native American rights activist and Oglala Sioux leader who in later years portrayed Native elders in Hollywood movies, died Monday of complications from cancer of the esophagus at his ranch near Porcupine, S.D. on the Pine Ridge Reservation. He was 72. “Today marks a significant and sad day in our … Read more
Verma Nequatewa Looks to Her Teacher, Charles Loloma, for Inspiration
Jewelry artist Verma Nequatewa‘s interest in making jewelry comes from a family connection. Her very first teacher was the famed Hopi artist Charles Loloma (1921-1991), who is credited with single-handedly changing the look of Hopi jewelry in the seventies with his innovative “stacking” of slabs of semi-precious stones like lapis, turquoise and coral. “I started … Read more
Charlene Holy Bear, Lakota Doll Artist, Goes for Authenticity and Beauty
Updated Nov. 5, 2012 — Charlene Holy Bear’s art is balanced at the intersection of tradition, historical accuracy, and purely artistic expression, without ever veering completely into any of those camps. Holy Bear (Standing Rock Sioux) is one of the more than 180 artists who participated in the 2012 American Indian Arts Marketplace, at the … Read more
Behind-the-Scenes Tours at the Southwest Museum Allow a Peek at Conservation Effort
On September 8, visitors to the Southwest Museum of the American Indian got a very special chance to peek behind the plastic sheeting during one of the museum’s quarterly tours. The Southwest Museum has been open to visitors on Saturdays since May. Because much of the building is still being used to conserve, document, and … Read more
A Special Group of Visitors to the Southwest Museum
A group of Indian basket weavers from two respected basket weaving organizations, Nex’wetem and the California Indian Basketweaving Association, visited the Southwest Museum of the American Indian on Tuesday, July 17, to view the museum’s collection of historic California baskets. “It was such an inspiring experience,” said Heidi Perez, one of the delegation members. “I … Read more
A Conversation with Robert Owens Greygrass
Last week (March 8, 2012), the actor and playwright Robert Owens Greygrass joined us on Facebook (and in person) for a Q&A session about his work, his life and his outlook. Greygrass has been performing his companion one-man plays, Walking on Turtle Island and Ghostlands of an Urban NDN, as part of Native Voices at … Read more
