Honoring Our Ancestors Opens

"Honoring Our Ancestors," an exhibition of works by New Mexico artists Donna Caulton, Belinda Edwards, Betsie Miller-Kusz and Harriette Tsosie, opened Saturday, April 19th with a reception and program at Gaucho Blue Fine Art, Peñasco.  Opening events included a blessing by veteran and Picuris Pueblo elder Carl A. ("Cat") Tsosie, Jr.  

Carl A. Tsosie, Jr. offers exhibition blessing.

Tsosie's blessing was followed by a ceremony honoring "the eldest of the elders" from nearby villages.  Miguel Torres read in Spanish a brief biography of each elder's life and presented them a red rose.  

Teodoro, Rio Lucio elder being honored

After an intermission for refreshments, the program continued with a presentation by Tsosie about developing the buffalo herd at his pueblo.  Tsosie noted tribes across the country have organized an Intertribal Bison Cooperative, headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota.  The ITBC maintains a DNA data base and helps tribal members exchange bison to create genetically strong herds.

To a standing room only crowd, Miguel Torres from Santa Cruz, NM, offered a presentation about the New Mexico Family Tree DNA project.  He said the project is helping New Mexicans trace their ancestry through genetic testing and genealogical research.

Exhibition attendees listen to a presentation by Miguel Torres

Jerol Arguello of Colorado followed Torres presentation with a summary of his research on the twelve founding families of nearby Las Trampas.  He is author of "A Pioneering Community: A Tribute to Juan de Arguello and the original families who settled the Santo Thomas Apostol del Rio de Las Trampas landgGrant"  Agguello's description of the founding families' racial and cultural diversity amplified Torres' research conclusions and the artists' viewpoint that we are all related.

Presenter and author Jerol Arguello

The exhibition featured works by the four artists which investigate their respective cultures' archetypes, creation myths, ancient migratory routes out of Africa, and contemporary settlements.  

Artist and exhibition organizer Donna Caulton (Chamisal) created artist's books and a magical music box as a tribute to her late mother, who loved Lawrence Welk.

Persuing the "Champagne in Heaven" box

Caulton also traced the route of her distant ancestors through Europe, creating acrylic paintings of now extinct animals they might have encountered along the way.

Donna Caulton.  "A Golden Morning Near Baku"

Artist Donna Caulton

African American artist Belinda Edwards (Santa Fe) created pen and ink drawings, artist's books and an installation memorializing the recent deaths of her mother and brother.  Her "Western Gate" mask, incorporating snake skin, shells, leather and other mixed media, references alchemy, an ongoing influence in her work.

Belinda Edwards.  "Western Gate: The Nigredo."

The installation of her mother's wheel chair is a haunting reminder of the fraility of human life and absurdity of human vanity.  The chair sits silently in front of the wall displaying Edwards' work.

Work by Belinda Edwards

Artists Betsie Miller-Kusz (second from left) and Belinda Edwards (third from left)                               with exhibition attendees

The work of Betsie Miller-Kusz (Jemez Springs) who installed the exhibition, features an recurring female protector image, recognized by many cultures.  Miller-Kusz says she has painted this image for years and only recently has a male counterpart begun to appear in her work.

Betsie Miller-Kusz.  "Swing Shift."

Betsie Miller-Kusz.  "Time's Resonance."

She installed a piece of tumbleweed, dipped in blue paint, in front of "Time's Resonance," creating an interesting dialog between the two dimensional painting and the natural world.

Betsie's wall with tumbleweed

Betsie Miller-Kusz with exhibition attendee

Albuquerqe artist Harriette Tsosie is exhibiting works based on her exploration of identity, which she believes is shaped primarily by genetics, language, and place.  She has been transcribing her paternal grandparents love letters (1906 - 1911) and her paternal grandmother's diaries (1900 - 1968), an activity which is providing rich fodder for her art.  Her 12 panel work, "Honoring My Ancestors," features giclee prints of old photographs embedded in diary and letter script.

Harriette Tsosie.  "Honoring My Ancestors."

Set in front of the giclee prints is a series of boxes containing "Family Secrets."

Harriette Tsosie.  "1906"

Tsosie produced an "Honoring Our Ancestors" catlog incorporating the giclee prints from the exhibition.  The catalog is on sale at the gallery.

Tsosie also included encaustic (pigmented wax) works from her current "Bosque" series, exploring the influence of place on a person's identity.  

Harriette Tsosie.  Bosque series: "Spring."

Harriette Tsosie with her work

"Honoring Our Ancestors" continues through May 26th at Gaucho Blue Fine Art.  The gallery is located on the scenic High Road to Taos at 14148 State Road 75, Peñasco, New Mexico.  Gallery hours are Thursday - Monday, 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM and by appointment.  For additional information, contact the gallery at 575/587-7076.