My photography exhibited at 'on behalf of water' 2016

My photography exhibited at 'on behalf of water''
Photo credit: Wendolyne Wnd Omana

'on behalf of water' Navajo art exhibition April 1, 2016 in Durango, Colorado

Many thanks to the Durango-based Animas Community Listening and Empowerment Project adn Fort Lewis College Sociology Professor Rebecca Claussen.

Photo credit: Wendolyne Wnd Omana

Photo credit: Wendolyne Wnd Omana

Photo credit: Wendolyne Wnd Omana 

Photo credit: Wendolyne Wnd Omana

'on behalf of water' April 10, 2016 Art Exhibition in Durango, Colorado

'on behalf of water' April 10, 2016 Art Exhibition in Durango, Colorado
Photos by Venaya Yazzie 2016

Existing as a female artist

The art of Venaya Yazzie, Navajo/Hopi artist.
Photo credit: Venaya Yazzie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2016

Existing as a female artist in America is tough on many levels. Being an Indigenous woman artist, specifically a painter is an uphill bumpy rez road full of rocks and sagebrush. 

I have always been in tuned the 'creative way' of life. I was raised by my Dine' matriarchs who were tangible-driven artists as weavers - so I am in many way a product of their legacy.

I paint. I do this because I was gifted the skills to do so, and too because it was pre-destined. I am just sharing some work of mine with you. These two images/ paintings are fairly new, and they are my favorites.

Blessings

My 'Papa' the late Alfred Padilla Yazzie Sr.

Alfred Padilla Yazzie Sr. at Chaco Canyon wash, NM
Photo credit Venaya Yazzie 2016
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

When I was born my maternal grandfather, who would legally adopted me, slept outside in the pickup at the Shiprock Indian Hospital. After midnight on September 26 I entered this world. My grandmother ran outside of the hospital to carry the news to my 'papa' that I was born.

This is the best story I have ever heard. As an adult I still love to hear my grandmother tell it to me.

All day today I felt my late 'papa's' presence strong - so I share this expression as a way of paying respect to a great man.

This man was a great person. He was a strong soul who worked hard to provide a good life for his wife and children, and too for me. I am so grateful for him for loving me, and for taking me into his arms and caring for me as his own 'daughter' when my mother was not able to do so. Since that early morning in the old Shiprock IHS, I imagine  he looked at me through the glass wall, my life has been anything but usual.

As I grew I watched my 'papa' and admired him for his work ethic, and too for his caring way in which he always helped his extended family any way he could. This man was a great singer of traditional Navajo songs, and he had the most beautyful voice! I had the blessing to hear him sing his songs, and now wish I could hear them again...

Oh how I miss this man in my life. He was my strong tower when I was weak and weary from this crazy world. For I knew he was there at his home he built on the southside of town, always willing to be a rock for me to lean on.

I captured this photo of him about ten years ago when I took him back 'home' to the place where he grew up, the area of Chaco wash in New Mexico. The old stone home his father built was still there and it was there in the 21st century that he told me many stories of his childhood. Papa was born in 1927 there at the Chaco homestead and he had many brothers and two sisters. This image is about his happiness to see this home again after many years and in the background is the spring run off of Chaco wash. My 'papa' was a Navajo of the water clan of people, called To'ahedleeni, or 'waters flow together' clan, he was from a strong line of desert dwellers.

Its been three years since he left this earth, and I miss him the same as I did the day he passed. But, his legacy of goodness to the fellow man lives on in me.

RIP Alfred Padilla Yazzie Sr.

Turquoise concerns 'hozho.'

Turquoise (and silver) are the best gift a person can receive.

For me it does not matter what kind of turquoise stone it is, or what the grade is.  For me the fact that its turquoise is golden! As a desert-dweller and person of Navajo and Hopi heritage, the stone is much more than the tangible. Turquoise concerns 'hozho.' The beauty of life, the balance of life and the power of protection.

I love receiving gifts of such beauty. Truly.

Blessings.

Family jewelry

Antique heirloom Navajo silver and turquoise bracelet
Photo credit: Venaya Yazzie 2016 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Easter weekend with the family and extended family was a blessing. My grandmother's older sister and her daughter's visited us. Holidays bring each of us family members closer in one place to dialogue and share our lives with each other, but it also includes the gathering of family jewelry.

As I sat with my two matriarchs at the kitchen table, we drank tea and ate sweet goodies, and we talked about the past full of our family and ancestors. I watched the two sisters eyes gleam as they spoke of their late father Jim Werito and how he was a 'good man' who cared and worked hard for his family. In their talk I watch their  turquoise-adorned fingers and wrists gesture with Navajo words about the land and the abundance of spring rains in their youth at Huerfano, New Mexico.

This image was captured by me after asking one matriarch if I could take a closer look at her bracelet. She expressed that this was an 'old' bracelet that she had 'for years.' She took off the bracelet from her small wrist and carefully handed it to me. Just by the first look I could tell this bracelet was and heirloom that carried many stories of its journey with this desert matriarch. 

The conversation shifted and we all three talked fondly and with much admiration about the small silver and turquoise cluster bracelet that I held gently in my hands. A new memory was made that evening, and many stories of the bracelet and its connection to Werito family memories traveled the rim of my ears and into my spirit. Truly, I was blessed.

In a good way.

Egyptian royal turquoise

Egyptian turquoise
Image via Facebook post 2016

Astounding!

When I first saw this image I was amazed by the size of this necklace pendant. This image was first posted on Facebook by someone who was interested if anyone knew the origins of the piece. I responded with, 'Egyptian royalty.'

When I first began my formal research about Indigenous Adornment, or Navajo, Pueblo turquoise and beliefs, I found that indeed turquoise is a global gem used by a plethora of diverse cultural people. It is true that the upper class, or royalty of ancient Egypt wore or 'adorned' themselves with the beautiful blue hues of turquoise, and gold. This is so interesting to me because clearly this stone was given value via monetary status, and thus only the Pharaoh and his court could wear this stone. Yet, for the Navajo and Pueblo this stone was essential to all people.

The fact that turquoise was wore by ancient Egyptians includes many parallels, but there are so many more differences in why the two cultural people used turquoise. In the end the stone has helped to create more stories even into the 21st century.

Blessings