Three Sisters acrylic and spray-paint by Ehren Kee Natay
Las Vegas, N.M. – New Mexico Highlands presents an exhibition of Native American art in the university’s Ray Drew Gallery with an artists and donor recognition reception Oct. 22 from 5 – 7 p.m.
The Ray Drew Gallery is in the university’s Donnelly Library at 802 National Ave.
“Work from selected Native American artists from New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma and Kentucky who have a story to tell, a talent to share, or a desire to encourage public appreciation for their art is on display,” said Karlene Martínez, the Ray Drew Gallery curator. “This exhibition celebrates Native American Heritage month in November.”
Martinez said there are 17 artists exhibiting a variety of two-dimensional and three-dimensional media, including some very powerful sculptures, paintings, jewelry, pottery, digital art, and printmaking.
“The styles range from traditional to contemporary, photorealism, symbolism and abstract,” Martínez said.
The artists represented in the exhibition are from various tribes and pueblos, with a number representing more than one affiliation: Choctaw/Comanche, Dine/Kewa-Pueblo/Cherokee, Navajo, Hopi, Chickasaw, Seneca, Zuni, Picuris/Navajo, Laguna, Santa Clara, and Oglala/Lakota.
Another element of the exhibition includes Native American artwork such as pueblo pottery and O’odham baskets on loan from the Highlands University Anthropology Program.
“The pieces from the Anthropology Program were donated by Margaret Hermann from the Lenore Barclay Spencer Walz Collection for educational purposes. Highlands anthropology students did research on the collection,” Martínez said.
The Native American art exhibition opened Oct. 4 and continues through Nov. 29.