Sacred Hoop:
Southwest Indian Art

     The Museum of the Native American Resource Center is proud to announce our newest exhibit, Sacred Hoop:  Southwest Indian Art on display now.  The exhibit is a collection of works by various artists from the southwestern region of the country.  Dr. Terrence Brayboy, owner of the collection, had this to say about the exhibit:

     “Every thing emerges from the land.  If there is a single theme that dominates the art of the native people of the Southwestern US it is the landscape.  The terrain of Arizona and New Mexico with its high desert and stunning vistas remains with visitors long after they have left.  For the artists of this region, the landscape is both inspiring and resplendent, which shows up in the art work they create.  The potters gather their clay from the earth and paint with pigment made from plants.  The blankets are woven from the wool of sheep that graze on the reservation.  The paintings are mostly of the desert and the land of the region.”

     “The art on display at Old Main recognizes the Native artists of the Southwestern United States.  It includes the Navajo, Hopi and Pueblo people of Arizona and New Mexico.  The collection represents artists who are innovators and who often pushed the boundaries of Southwest art, but still recognize the importance of traditional forms and themes of the region.  Native art of the Southwest is alive and well, and these artists demonstrate that there is still plenty of room to expand on traditional designs.”

     Artists included in the exhibit are Harrison Begay (Navajo), Robert Draper (Navajo/Hopi), Benson Halwood (Navajo), Al Bahe (Navajo), Billy Whitehorne, Jr. (Navajo), L. Mitchell (Navajo), Beverly Blacksheep (Navajo), Justin Tso (Navajo), Carlos Begay (Navajo), Andy Tisinajinnie (Navajo) and Jimmy Toddy, Jr (Navajo).

     The exhibit will be on display through the July 10, 2009.  A reception to celebrate the exhibit will be held on Tuesday, June23, 2009.  Refreshments will be served.  For more information contact the Resource Center at 910-521-6282 or email nativemuseum@uncp.edu.