Richard
Dawavendewa's award-winning contemporary Hopi art combines comic
book history, Japanese Origami inspired paper folding, sculpture
and printmaking. His two dimensional artwork will be featured at
the fourth annual Christmas Fine Art Show in Tuba City at the Warrior
Pavilion on Dec. 19 and 20.
The
opening reception for the art show, sponsored by Tuba City Regional
Health Care Corporation, Tuba City Athletic Department and the Tuba
City Police Department, is scheduled for Dec. 19 from 6-10 p.m.
The Dec. 20 show will start at 10 a.m. and go until 5 p.m.
Dawavendewa,
a member of the Hopi Tribe and a native of Moencopi, is a first
year art teacher at Tuba City High School, who teaches beginning
drawing and painting. He joins his brother, Cedric, who teaches
ceramics at the school.
As
art teacher, Dawavendewa said he hopes to be able to give each of
his students, "a greater appreciation of art itself and the
work and discipline that it takes to create and market good, high-quality
art work."
Dawavendewa's
original art inspiration came from comic books. When he was growing
up and he would go to Flagstaff on shopping trips with his family,
he would head for the comic book aisles. His first comic book hero
was Batman and still is today. He started drawing Batman at age
6.
Inspired
by these colorful images, Dawavendewa continued to draw and paint
and eventually ended up at DeVry College taking courses to obtain
an associates degree in art. He then went onto Northern Arizona
University for his bachelor of fine arts degree and since he had
several credits towards a graduate degree, he decided to stay and
get a graduate degree in art.
Dawavendewa
ended up at the University of North Dakota in a master's program
and graduated in May. But he said his own home reservation and people
were calling to him, so he came back to work within his own Hopi
community and wants to share his special art gift with students
that are from his own hometown. When a position in Tuba City High's
art department became available he quickly applied and he was snapped
up before he had time to give it any additional thought.
Dawavendewa's
work has won several awards in the past three years that have focused
on his interest and skill in two-dimensional design. Though his
undergraduate degree is in printmaking, he has taken that technique
a step further by combining it with bookbinding and folding sculpture.
These
very complex and foldable sculpture pieces have won awards from
SouthWestern Association for Indian Art's Indian Market in
the past two years in both Best of Category and Best of Two-Dimensional
Design. Dawavendewa took home this year's 2003 Museum of Northern
Arizona's Best of Division in the Contemporary category of
the Hopi Show.
His
connection to the upcoming show in Tuba City is to fellow artist,
Navajo Nation member Rueben Richards who is a painter and someone
who has known Richard for a long time. Richards has coordinated
this show for the past four years and was anxious to include Hopis
in the fourth annual public event. Dawavendewa was at the top of
his list because of their long friendship but primarily because
of the caliber and recent demand of his work.
Other
artists that will show at the Christmas Fine Art Show are: Billy
Whitethorne, Ira Custer, Julius Keyonnie, Ed Whitethorne, Liz Whitethorne
Beanlly, Bahe Whitethorne Sr., Rueben Richards, Keith Smith, Roy
Walters, Dan Yazzie Jr., Eriic Bilagody, Naveek, Irvin Toddy, Robert
Shorty, Delmar Polacca, Leroy Begay, Leroy Dejolie, Harold Davidson,
Virgil Nez, David K. John, Darryl Begay, Delbert Blackhorse, Ryan
Huna Smith, Albert Nells and Henry Yazzie.
Larry
Shepard, Richard Delbert Blackhorse, James BIlagody and Coalition
will provide the entertainment. Also a Toys for Tots Christmas toy
drive will be underway at the show. Toy donations for all age groups
are welcome.
Upcoming
shows for Dawavendewa include Pueblo Grande's Museum show Dec
12-14 at downtown Steele Park in Phoenix. After the Tuba City exhibition,
Dawavendewa will prepare for next year's Red Earth Show and
MNA's Hopi Show as well as the SWAIA Indian Market in Santa
Fe.
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