Swaia - Indian Market

Native Modern Art and Design Exhibit. Earth, Wind and Fire

Earth Moves - Native Modern's Earth, Wind and Fire
Roxanne Swentzell

Who: Legends Santa Fe and the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA)
What: Native Modern--Art and Design Series. Earth, Wind and Fire
Where: Legends Gallery: 143 Lincoln Ave. Santa Fe, NM (505) 983-5639
When: Thursday, July 8, 2010 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
How Much: Free

(SANTA FE, NM) The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) and Legends Santa Fe presents the pottery and ceramic art of Roxanne Swentzell, Jody Naranjo and Glenn Gomez. As part of the Native Modern Art and Design Series, this show is scheduled to coincide with the opening of SOFA West Art Fair on July 8. SWAIA is deeply involved with the SOFA Art fair this year.

As the host of the exhibit space for Native jewelers, "SWAIA @ SOFA: Contemporary Metal" and co-producer of a three-day symposium entitled "Historic Bond/Contemporary Spirit: Collecting New Southwest Native Pottery," SWAIA and Legends Santa Fe are proud to presents these three extraordinary and acclaimed ceramic artists in conjunction to the SOFA Art Fair. By blending traditional sculpture and firing techniques and incorporating contemporary design and imagery, these three artists revamp the timeless practice of ceramic art.

The Native Modern series of exhibits debuts a new show every month at Legends Santa Fe. SWAIA and Legends Santa Fe will seek distinctive and previously untested ways of bringing Native artists together from across cultures, media and themes. The shows, like Indian Market, will be at once traditional and brimming with innovative ideas. The result will be the presentation of Native art unlike anything else in Santa Fe.

Roxanne Swentzell

Roxanne Swentzell (Santa Clara Pueblo) was destined to be a talented artist. Her family is full of renowned potters and sculptors. Her talent was recognized early and she was given the opportunity to spend two years at the Institute for American Indian Arts in Santa Fe before graduating from high school. She then went on to the Portland Museum Art School. After formal training and the development of her own style, Swentzell began to create full-length clay figures that represent the complete spectrum of the human spirit. She feels that many people are out of touch with their environment and hopes relating to her expressive characters will help them get back in touch with their surroundings and feelings. Her figures represent a full range of emotions and irrepressible moods. Swentzell focuses a lot on interpretative female portraits attempting to bring back the balance of power between the male and female, inherently recognized in her own culture. She was recently recognized by the City of Santa Fe for her sculpture, "Family," that hangs in the Santa Fe Convention Center.

Jody Naranjo

Recognized internationally as New Mexico's premier contemporary pottery artist, Jody Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo) commands a distinctive presence in the Native Arts idiom. Born into one of the most renowned pottery-crafting families in Southwest history - she still uses the polishing stones handed down from her famed grandmother, Rose.
Masterfully executed, her motifs and styling emerge from the pottery with their own signature verve - born from centuries-old techniques and tradition, actually re-defined by the groundbreaking artist. Naranjo, herself, continues to dig and process the clay from the land of her native Santa Clara Pueblo. Never using a wheel or kiln, the artist is overwhelmingly acknowledged as a true master of the art form, skillfully adhering to the traditional coil method and pit firing process perfected by her ancestors. From a humble beginning selling under Santa Fe's famed portal she has garnered a place atop international collectors' lists. Naranjo has earned a list of top awards at the nation's leading venues, including the most coveted "Best of Show" award at the Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market. Her Awards include scores of "1st Place", "Best of Division", and "Best of Class" awards at the Santa Fe Indian Market, Eiteljorg Museum, and the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market. As of fall 2008, she has "sold-out" over 75 solo exhibitions around the globe. Naranjo's masterpieces in clay have earned permanent placement in important public and private collection in the world, including the acclaimed private collection of Jane and Bill Buchsbaum; the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture; and the Smithsonian, Heard, Panhandle-Plains, and Eiteljorg Museums.

Glenn Gomez

Glenn Gomez is from the Taos and Pojoaque Pueblos. He has been working with micaceous clay since 1988. Curiosity got him started in pottery when his mother gave him a ball of clay and said "take this clay and create something of your own, have a style that is you" He took her advice and has been making unique pottery made with natural clays ever since. Glenn attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe from 1989 to 1992 and received an Associates of Fine Arts degree.

For more information, please call Gabe Gomez at
(505) 983-5220 or email ggomez@swaia.org