IAIA Faculty and Staff Show Draws Record Attendance

SANTA FE—About 458 people were on hand for the opening of “The Art of Community” on Feb. 14, 2003, one of the Institute of American Indian Arts Museum’s best attended openings. Every three years, the IAIA Museum exhibits the work of current faculty and staff.

“Everybody influences the students, both faculty and staff. It’s a pleasure to have artists from every level of the institute in this exhibit,” said IAIA Museum Exhibitions Coordinator, Joseph Sanchez, who curated the 2003 Faculty and Staff Exhibition. Sanchez sees this exhibition as an opportunity for the IAIA community to become better acquainted.

“The Art of Community” showcases the work of nineteen faculty members and fifteen IAIA staff from such areas as housing, administration, development, student life and the museum. The work includes creative writing and a range of two-dimensional and three-dimensional medium, including two installations.

The exhibition begins at the entrance to the main gallery with Studio Arts Professor Charlene Teters’ two installations “Star Wars Shirt: Episode II” and “War Makers Back in Town.” The first installation, an oversized war shirt with Custer’s image, hangs from the ceiling. The second, a painting in a mirror-lined box, beckons the viewer to look inside. Bullets suspend from the ceiling throughout the installations.

Upon entering the main gallery and moving towards the right, the viewer finds the collaborative work of Studio Arts Professor Linda Lomahaftewa and Creative Writing Professor Evelina Lucero. Excerpts from Lucero’s essay, “The Silicon Coyote: Where Past Meets Future in the American Southwest” accompany Lomahaftewa’s monotypes.

Continuing around the gallery, the viewer comes to the large paintings of Norman Akers, studio arts professor. Next is Dean C. Maxx Stevens’ mixed media installation “The Gathers.” Several nest-like forms suspend from the ceiling, making their shadows a part of the work.

To the left of the entrance into the main gallery is an autobiographical giclee print titled, “She Always Wore Turquoise Moccasins” by Museum Studies Professor Barbara Lucero Sand. This is followed by the poetry of Creative Writing Professor Arthur Sze.

In the Fritz Scholder Gallery is Jon Davis’ eight-paneled “Heteronymy,” of particular interest to creative writing students who have heard mention of the poets included in his exhibit. Davis is photographed as each of his seven personas (Otis G. Wright, Chuck Calabreze, Gray Davis, J. Scott Pemberton, Juan Ramirez, Bucky Sherman, and Felicia DuBois). These photographs are combined with a biography of each poet as well as their poems. His own biography and work makes up the first panel

The paintings of Interim Museum Director and Museum Studies Professor Charles Dailey follow Davis’ panels. Photography Professor Dorothy Grandbois’s versatility in two-dimensional art is seen in her work: digital prints of IAIA’s 2002 graduation and another entitled “Good Medicine,” a photo etching on slate, and a litho with mixed media.

Wall-mounted showcases display the silver and gold bracelets and other art of Jewelry Professor Charlene Reano, the beadwork of Cultural Studies Professor Ed Wapp, and the silver casting of Ceramics Professor Karita Coffey. Her work is also exhibited in a display case in the center of the room.

The artwork of IAIA’s adjunct faculty is displayed in the South Circle Gallery. The art of the staff lines the hallways and fills Gallery A. Museum gift shop employee Terren Otis’ creations (a skirt, shawl and hood of pushamina wool) outfits a mannequin in Gallery A. The opening of “The Art of Community” closed with a fashion show of his designs.

The Faculty Exhibition runs through May 26, 2003, and the Staff Exhibition through April 20, 2003. The Staff Exhibition is followed by the Student Graduation Exhibition with both of these on display with the Faculty Exhibition. The simultaneous exhibitions provide an opportunity for students and faculty to look at their influences.

Copyright © 2003 IAIA Chronicle