Stark Museum of Art Opens New Exhibition, Navajo Weaving: Tradition & Trade

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1 Page 1 of 5 For Immediate Release Contact: Sarah Boehme, Curator Stark Museum of Art sboehme@starkmuseum.org Stark Museum of Art Opens New Exhibition, Navajo Weaving: Tradition & Trade ORANGE, Texas, February 5, 2014 Stark Museum of Art announces the grand opening of its newest exhibition, Navajo Weaving: Tradition & Trade on Saturday, February 8, 2014, and presents an expansive and diverse collection of weavings from the 1800s to present day, including rare textiles never-before-seen by the general public. Navajo Weaving: Tradition & Trade highlights major regional styles of Navajo weaving selected from the Collection of the Stark Museum of Art and loaned works from two contemporary nationally-acclaimed Navajo weavers, Melissa Cody and D.Y. Begay. The staff developed the exhibition around the concept that art is influenced by the culture and experience of the artist, as well as by external factors such as commerce and trade, said Dr. Sarah Boehme, Curator. The exhibition features more than 35 exquisite Navajo (Dine ) weavings including a saddle blanket (c. 1890), several Chief Blankets (c ), textiles and rugs (c ), and contemporary weavings from present day. In addition to seeing stunning textiles, visitors will have the opportunity to walk into a replica Trading Post, complete with staples from every day life which includes stocked items like flour, coffee, medicine and supplies. (Navajo weavings could be traded or bartered at these general stores and often appeared on counters and on walls.) Outside the Trading Post is an enlarged map of the Southwest, including photos of the old stores to help museum-goers pinpoint the trading posts in locations that gave many weavings and designs their regional name.

2 Page 2 of 5 Another aspect of the exhibition is the opportunity for visitors to try their hand at weaving. Each museum-goer will be given a piece of fabric to weave into a stationary loom located at the Museum to create a community weaving. Tours, classes, workshops, interactive weaving sessions, and events will occur on select dates throughout the duration of the exhibition. On March 21 at the event for adults, Night at the Museum, Melissa Cody, contemporary Navajo weaver, will demonstrate her technique and talk with visitors about her art and textiles. Navajo weaver, D.Y. Begay, will visit in April to engage visitors in demonstrations, history of Navajo weaving and provide examples of weaving and carding tools. Presentations range from viewing dye charts to learning about color sources from native plants. Both contemporary weavers are nationally recognized expert weavers and artists. On May 16 and 17 the public will have a special opportunity to browse, buy and collect authentic Navajo weavings and Native American art at the Navajo Weaving and Native American Art Show, presented by the nationally acclaimed RB Burnham & Co. Trading. Their expertise in buying, selling and trading has earned the respect of Native Americans and collectors throughout the United States. Visitors will have the rare chance to meet Bruce Burnham, a fourth generation Burnham family member, and talk with him about his experiences and listen to stories about Navajo tradition and trade. We are very pleased to be sharing these exceptional Navajo weavings with the community. I m drawn to this exhibit because it encourages visitors to look at the weavings as beautiful art objects and also see them as practical wares produced to support Navajo living on the reservations. Knowing the back story encourages people to consider the influences of both tradition and trade that is still encountered today, said Trina Nelson Thomas, Director of Stark Art and History venues. For larger or high-resolution images, contact Amanda Adams at aadams@starkfoundation.org.

3 Page 3 of 5 Unknown Diné (Navajo) artist Rug, Wide Ruins c. 1940, natural handspun wool; vegetal dyes 80.5 x 55 inches (Photo/ ) Rug, Wide Ruins (c. 1940) shows characteristics of the Revival style of the early twentieth century. The horizontal bands echo the stripes of a Chief Blanket. The natural colors relate to past practices. The Revival style used plant dyes to enhance the range of colors. The geometric figures add complexity and are contained within the bands for harmony. Attributed to Yah-nah-pah ( ) Rug, Yeibeichai Attributed to Yah-nah-pah, Diné (Navajo) ( ) 1910, natural handspun wool; commercial dye 61 x inches (Photo/ ) Rug, Yeibeichai (c. 1910) This rug has been attributed to a specific weaver, Yah-nah-pah. She

4 Page 4 of 5 was married to Richard T.F. Simpson, the British immigrant owner of a trading post at Gallegos Canyon, New Mexico. She is known to have woven four rugs with figures related to the Yei, the spiritual beings of the Navajo and was one of the first weavers to incorporate figures into weavings. The Yeibeichai are dancers who portray the Yei. Unknown Diné (Navajo) artist Chief Blanket, Third Phase , natural handspun wool and bayeta (unraveled wool cloth); indigo dye inches (Photo/ ) Unknown Navajo Chief Blanket (c ) Stripes of the Chief Blanket provide the basic pattern. This blanket is third phase. In this phase, triangular shapes are entered into the rectilinear design and in this blanket; diamonds and sections of diamonds are used instead of blocks of color. About the Stark Museum of Art The Stark Museum of Art began as a vision of H.J. Lutcher Stark. As early as 1927, Lutcher Stark had discussed with associates his hope of someday opening a museum. His interest in the arts followed that of his mother, Miriam Lutcher Stark, an enthusiastic collector of art, furniture and decorative items from around the world. Lutcher Stark developed a similar passion for collecting, with a particular interest in nature and art depicting the American West. In the late 1920s, he began collecting American Indian objects from New Mexico. The Museum houses one of the nation s most significant collections of American Western art and is located in the heart of downtown historic Orange, Texas. Paintings, sculpture, prints and rare books interpret the West from 19 th century frontier artists to the 20 th century artistic colonies in New Mexico and focus on the stunning land, dramatic people and diverse wildlife of the American West. The Museum features artists such as Frederic Remington, John James Audubon, Charles Marion Russell and Georgia O Keeffe. Also featured is a significant collection of American Indian objects, including baskets, pottery, clothing and jewelry.

5 Page 5 of 5 General admission to the Stark Museum of Art is included as a membership benefit for STARK Cultural Venues members and their guests, subject to membership level. Admission fees to each venue for all others (as applicable) are $6.00 for adults; $5.00 for seniors (age 65 and up), students (with ID), and youth (age 10-17); $2.00 for children (age 4-9); and free for toddlers (age 3 and under). Group tours are available by advanced registration. The Museum is located at 712 Green Avenue, in Orange, and it is two hours from Houston, twenty minutes from Beaumont, Texas, and a half-hour from Lake Charles, Louisiana. The Museum is open Tuesday Saturday, 9:00 am- 5:00 pm. The Stark Museum of Art is a program of the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, a private operating foundation that aims to encourage and assist education and to improve and enrich the quality of life in Southeast Texas. ##