Saturday, November 27, 2004

Route 66 artists gather at Isleta

Jane Moorman Valencia County News-Bulletin

Special to El Defensor Chieftain

Artists from along Route 66 will be gathering at the Isleta Casino and Resort's giant white tent facility for the "Cavalcade of Arts."

The Route 66 Society for the Arts' second annual winter art stroll has outgrown its original venue of the Luna Mansion so the society has moved the event. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, at the Isleta facility.

"We have out grown any venue available in Los Lunas," said Eddie Ramirez, president of the society. "The society is the fastest growing art organization in New Mexico. With 185 members, we wanted a location where all of our members have an opportunity to display their work."

The move to the Isleta Casino facility also opened the doors to include artists from Isleta Pueblo in the show.

"When I talked with tribal members about having the art show in Isleta, they said it would be a great opportunity for them to show their work as well," Ramirez said. "Among the 64 artists in the show, 12 will be tribal members. They will display everything from jewelry and pottery to fine art."

Ed Jojola has promoted the artwork of his fellow tribal members for 35 years at his Shirpoyo Art Gallery on the plaza in Isleta.

Shirpoyo, Jojola's Tiwa name, translates as "colors in the sunrise," which is also a description of Jojola's artwork depicting life in the pueblo and the sunsets and sunrises that give New Mexico its name as the Land of Enchantment.

"I consider myself a detailist using a realist technique which reveals my background as a technical illustrator," said Jojola. "I strive for beauty, rhythm, accuracy and telling a story from the Native American point of view in a way that captures both the past and the present, and to show my love for the simple things in life, such as eating Indian bread baked from an horno or resting in the shade of the juniper tree along the Manzano Mountain range."

This year, the work of Shirpoyo, as Jojola signs his work, won first place at the New Mexico State Fair Native American art show. His work is also represented at the Adobe Gallery on Canyon Road in Santa Fe. His original works decorate the dining room at the Shaffer Hotel in Mountainair, where he lives and has his studio.

"I'm excited about the winter art stroll coming to Isleta," Jojola said. "Since that is where I'm from, I like to promote the artist from our tribe and surrounding area there."

Continuing a family tradition and the personal solitude derived while painting the pottery is why Herman Lente is a potter. While he has refined his skills during the past 35 years, he is also passing the techniques on to his granddaughters, Meredith Platero and Justine Lente, who won a first place in the New Mexico State Fair's school art show.

"Painting relaxes me," he said of the work he is drawn to each evening. "I always have a piece ready to be painted. In the evening after supper and spending time with my family, I work for a while on a piece."

Recently, Lente has expanded his work to etched glass which he also enjoys doing.

While many people know Lente's work and obtain it through special order and his donations to organizations for fund-raisers and trophies, it has been a while since Lente has been to an art show.

"I'm excited that there is going to be a show on our reservation," he said. "I think it's going to have a good turnout."

Cruz Abeita is also looking forward to showing his pottery, wildlife paintings and gourds. He also is known for his clocks built into board that display wildlife or Native American designs.

"I do a lot of work for special orders," said Abeita who has enjoyed art since he was in school. "This will be my first show."

Among the 64 artists who will display everything from paintings to ceramics and pottery, photography and woodcarving to jewelry, metal sculptures to stained glass. There will a spot for Native American art with beadwork, weaving and leatherwork as well as Native American shawls. There will be something for every type of taste and style.

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