Native Max Magazine - October/November 2015

Saturday November 14, 2015 Marriott Denver Tech Center Gala 7:00pm - 9:00pm VIP Reception 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber of Commerce invites you to celebrate the 12th Annual American Indian Achievement Awards where we honor and recognize American Indian Professionals, Businesses, and Students.

Our Gala features a Silent Auction and Raffle to raise funds for future Galas, Entertainment, and business contacts to network.

Visit RMICC.org for more information

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CONTENTS

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47 FEATURES 40 ARTIST OF STYLE: BEN PEASE 44 MASTER OF THE ARTS: LOREN ARAGON 47 SUCCESS IN THE SOUTHWEST

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STYLE

ART

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TRENDING: COATS & CHROME THE MOMENT: BLANKET COATS GOLDYN GOODS STREET STYLE BEHIND THE FASHION ACCESSORY BOX

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HER 4 DIRECTIONS BYNEEKO PRESENTS: MODERN NATIVE BEAUTY TALK: DEVOTED TO BEAUTY BEST DRESSED MEN OF INDIAN COUNTRY

36 CEDAR CARVING AND STORYTELLING: FELIX SOLOMON 37 POSITIVE VIBES: CYALTSA FINKBONNER 38 ARTISTS OF TRADITION: COAST SALISH ARTISTS FRANK GOES BEHIND AND JENNIFER LONG

Introducing...

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NATIVE MAX SH OW R O OM Now you can shop items straight from the issue like never before.

Just look out for the NM Showroom logo next to items to view and purchase. It’s that easy!

If you’re viewing this on a print copy, that’s okay! Just head over to nativemaxshowroom.com to shop!

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Want to see your Native American-made items in a future issue of Native Max? Contact us today!

SPORTS & FITNESS ISSUE

Are you a Native American/First Nations youth athlete? Do you have a favorite healthy exercise you’d like to share? Want to highlight an extraordinary sports’ team? We’re looking for features to add to our next issue!

Connect with us to be featured: info@nativemax.com

NATIVE MAX COVER MAGAZINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kelly Holmes editor@nativemax.com

UNCOVERED The cover of the Style & Art issue: Crow/Northern Cheyenne artist BEN PEASE on the front, with Native Max photographer ZOE FRIDAY behind the camera, with AMANDA WHITE as the assistant

MANAGING PARTNER/CO EDITOR Johnnie Morris johnniemorris@nativemax.com EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Kaitlin Blaylock kaitlin.blaylock@nativemax.com ASSISTANT TO EIC Tatiana Ybarra PR/SECRETARY Paula Crawford paula.crawford@nativemax.com GRAPHIC DESIGN/PRODUCTION Tara Rose Weston taraweston@nativemax.com GRAPHIC DESIGN/MARKETING E’cho Martin ehmartin24@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR Jacqueline Brixey PHOTOGRAPHER Zoe Friday zoe.friday@nativemax.com

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CONTRIBUTORS Gia Bolton Noel Altaha Daryl Begaye Everett Baxter Anthony Burris Helen Oro Krystina Bia Crystal Szczepanski Sooner Davenport SALES MANAGER Mercedes Montgomery mercedes.montgomery@nativemax.com SALES Jason Finkbonner jason.finkbonner@nativemax.com

PUBLISHED BY NATIVE MAX & OTHER MEDIA VENTURES LLC Headquartered in Denver, Colorado P: (888)975-3775 E: info@nativemax.com

NATIVE MAX MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED (STARTING JUNE 1, 2014) SIX TIMES PER YEAR BY NATIVE MAX & OTHER MEDIA VENTURES, LLC. TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL COPIES, PLEASE EMAIL INFO@NATIVEMAX.COM. NO PORTION OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER. COPYRIGHT 2015, NATIVE MAX & OTHER MEDIA VENTURES, LLC. PUBLISHED IN DENVER, COLORADO, BY NATIVE MAX & OTHER MEDIA VENTURES. NATIVE MAX & OTHER MEDIA VENTURES LLC CANNOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONS, MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS. WHILE EVERY CARE IS TAKEN, PRICES AND DETAILS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND NATIVE MAX & OTHER MEDIA VENTURES LLC TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR OMISSIONS OR ERRORS. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO PUBLISH AND EDIT ANY CONTENT SUBMITTED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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3 (1) COVER STAR: Record-breaking athlete turned award-winning artist Ben Pease was selected to grace the cover of our Style & Art Issue; (2) COVER THREADS: The wardrobe changes and #nativebling Ben brought to the shoot: Medallion necklace by Janine Pease. Cuffs by a southwestern artist; (3) BEHIND THE CAMERA: Native Max photographer Zoe Friday (Northern Arapaho) traveled up to Billings, Montana to photogaph Ben in a hotel lobby. Zoe’s assistant for the shoot was Amanda White (Assiniboine); (4) A MAN OF ART & STYLE: To help represent the concept of the issue, Ben was instructed to bring fresh, in-style clothing and jewelry for the cover shoot, along with a few of his paintings

4 To check out more behind the scenes shots of the cover shoot, head on over to nativemaxmagazine.tumblr.com

EDITOR’S WELCOME

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Download our brand new Native Max mobile app in Android, Apple and Amazon app stores!

Buy issues, 1 year subs, & more

ur editorial calendar has gone through a bit of an overhaul the past few months. With the addition of our mobile app, and re-introduction to printing (surprise!), we had to rearrange all of the issues set for the second half of 2015. After moving things around, the team and I were stuck with an October/November issue that could have been a few different themes: Food & Drink, Gentlemen’s, and Fashion. Of course, we wanted to share the success and stories of artists from various Indian markets from around the country, and touch on fall and winter fashion trends featuring Native American designers. After discussion, the team and I decided to dedicate the October/November issue to the Style & Art of Indian Country.

On the cover we have Ben Pease, a talented Northern Cheyenne/Crow artist who embodies effortless style, both fashionably and artistically. Our in-house photographer Zoe Friday traveled to Montana for the cover shoot. I interviewed an extraordinary Acoma Pueblo multimedia artist who’s turning heads this year with his fashion designs. Loren Aragon and his collection ACONAV traveled to New York Fashion Week a few weeks ago, where he certainly made a statement on the runway. My last highlight of the issue was being able to help Native Max art editor Daryl Begaye put together the story about the Indigenous Fine Art Market artists and their success in the southwest.

The months of September and October are probably the busiest months ever. We’re revamping our internal operations, adding new team members on board, launching our mobile apps (see left side), setting up our online shop, and releasing the magazine in print again; just imagine this is only the editorial side! We’re also gearing up for our expansion into Europe.

Our first trip will be the last week of November, in which we’ll meeting with fashion industry leaders, stockists, and more.

We’re producing a capsule fashion presentation with selected Native American and First Nations fashion designers in a unique collaboration with Manchester Fashion Network and Studio Bee. We’re excited, and can’t wait to share even more details about the future of Native Max.

Enjoy the issue!

INSTAGRAM

@kelzholmez

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STYLE FA L L S T Y L E G U I D E

COATS & CHROME The fall/winter trend of cozyness is complete with Native-made coats and silver jewelry All clothing and jewelry, Sage & Silver Boutique, Rapid City, SD

MODEL: FAITH TONEY, NAVAJO

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STYLE

Jackets & Jewelry Cold weather - no, it isn’t about looking basic or ordinary. Spruce up your fall outfit with a patterned coat and sterling silver jewelry

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TARA ROSE WESTON

STYLING BY LAUREN GOOD DAY GIAGO

Jacket, necklace, earrings, purse, pants, all by SAGE & SILVER

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STYLE

It’s okay to mix up layers of patterns in a variety of colors and shapes. Just don’t over do it --pair one bold patterned coat with a top with minimal patterns

Shirt, coat, necklace, earrings, all by SAGE & SILVER

Get a hat fall-ready by dressing it up with a scarf

Shirt, necklace, earrings, hat, all by SAGE & SILVER; scarf by B.YELLOWTAIL Photo by Pamela Peters OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 NATIVEMAX.COM

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STYLE This light blanket-jacket could be the best staple this season

Shirt, necklace, earrings, jacket, pants, all by SAGE & SILVER

MODEL: SARAH BEARE, HUNKPAPA LAKOTA

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STYLE Instantly brighten up a cloudy day with a light top and brightly-colored patterned coat

Sweater, necklace, earrings, jacket, pants, all by SAGE & SILVER

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STYLE THE MOM ENT

BLANKET COAT

Make the transition from fall to winter effortless with a blanket coat COATS BY AMASTE WIN JEWELRY BY URBAN TURQUOISE

Photos by Kelly Holmes & Paula Crawford Editing by Tara Rose Weston

MODEL: ALYSSA CRAWFORD, SICANGU LAKOTA

Make a stylish statement with a colorful version; our fave blanket coats this fall? These ones from AMASTE WIN (which also include appliqué

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AMASTE WIN COATS / URBAN TURQUOISE JEWELRY

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Have an event coming up? Add them to our calendar! Submit your event online at nativemax.com

STYLE

GOLDYN GOODS Denver’s it-shop Goldyn took the fashion reigns and curated ensembles and picks of the most note-worthy winter trends of 2015 PHOTOGRAPHY BY E’CHO MARTIN

STYLING BY TIFFANY LEBARON

This wool Shana Mote Lou coat ($489) enough is the focus of the outfit. The coat over a black Shana Mote Etinne turtleneck ($137) and black distressed Iro Jarod skinnies ($196) makes for a cozy, yet simple outfit. Finish with layered necklaces that clash with eachother, like a wooden bead necklace ($880) and thick hammered chain ($990) adorning a diamond-encrusted antler ($2200), all by The Woods. Add a leather bag with a unique feature, such as this one by Building Block ($450); all available at Goldyn, shopgoldyn.com

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STYLE

Soften a Navy jacket (Union Mercantile Vintage)($65) with a printed button down, like this one by Orville and Frances ($65). Mix up your daily look with an Illana Kohn jumpsuit ($264). Complete the look with a unique charm, like Mickey with diamond ears ($880) hanging off of a thin chain and diamond clasp ($440)(both by The Woods). Don’t forget a bright pouch ($55), such as this one

by Collina Strada; all available at Goldyn, shopgoldyn.com MODEL: TATIANA YBARRA; NAVAJO, SHOSHONE & APACHE

Check out more looks from Goldyn online at nativemax.com

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STYLE On Location: Rapid City, SD

STREET STYLE Native Max photographer Tara Rose Weston captured the styles of Megan and Andy in this special feature.

Megan

Andy Tribe: Oglala Lakota

Tribe: Rosebud Lakota Favorite designer: B.Yellowtail; “because she intertwines her culture into her work and yet is so up-to-date with fashion” Must-have: White shell necklace by a Santo Domingo Pueblo artist she’s pictured with above

Share your street style with us by tagging Native Max, or with hashtag #NativeMaxStreetStyle

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STYLE FA S H I O N N E W S

BEHIND THE FASHION We take you behind the making of some of the best collections released this season

Read more about the Panther Collection, and Dorsey’s poem online at nativemax.com

BYNEEKO’S ‘MODERN NATIVE’ & ‘REBEL’ COLLECTIONS KDD RELEASES PANTHER WOMAN COLLECTION Chickasaw artist and jewelry designer Kristen Dorsey’s newest collection, The Panther Woman, was inspired by a Chickasaw heroine who helped fight off the Spaniards. The pieces in the collection are inspired by ancient shell carvings of the panther and other traditional southeastern designs. The collection consists of necklaces, bracelets and rings, and is now available on her site at kristindorseydesigns.com

B.JASH.I. PREMIERES SS16 COLLECTION AT FASHION WEEK SAN DIEGO Marcie Bain (Karuk/ Shasta) and her B.JASH.I. label are premiering their upcoming SS 16 collection, which is inspired by the medicine wheel.

“We are excited to bring the amazing, tribal graphic, boost of color to you this April” she explains to us. The collection is bold, eyecatching and will whisp the runway for its first

debut at Fashion Week San Diego on October 3rd. The collection boasts jumpsuits, pencil skirts, tulle skirts, maxi dress, crop tops and jackets, all in rich tones of black, red, yellow and white, and occasionally fringe. In addition to the apparel, Bain is also releasing fine jewelry and tribal clutches as accessories of her collection.

With the fall release of Modern Native and Rebel, byNEEKO launched two collections that are both different from one another, and yet share the same story.

Modern Native is a collection that is influenced by traditional Navajo jewelry with a modern touch that is elegant and timeless for everyday wear. “When I started to design this collection, I wanted to find a way to make squash blossoms and conchos more simplistic and modern to wear from day to night,” explains designer Neeko April (Navajo). “But I also wanted to keep the design simple and elegant, and still have the eye-catching effect.” The collection was not complete until Neeko rounded out the designs by incorporating her own taste with the two traditional pieces for a new, modern design.

That’s where the inspiration for Neeko’s Triangle Vision pieces came from, which are part of the Modern Native collection. “These pieces have a deep meaning to me since they are influenced by a golden hawk that soared over me when I was seeking guidance during this collection. When I looked up at the hawk, I envisioned the design.” The elongated triangle symbolizes the body of the hawk and the stamping symbolizes it’s feathers, while the turquoise stone brings protection. With this last design, Modern Native was complete.

Rebel seems to bear it’s own story and fate. The Rebel Collection was created during a difficult time in Neeko’s life, when she had to decide whether to stay at her full-time job or pursue her true passion, in which her rebellious side came out. “I left a full-time job and went with my passion to start my own small jewelry business. I knew I was taking a big risk and would face a lot of challenges along the way, but I grew up facing a lot of challenges and struggles. I was able to fight threw them all.” Each piece tells the story of her journey. “When I needed to be brave and have strength, I was guided by the bull, buffalo and the hawk. The crescent moon represents my new beginning and growth, and the arrowhead symbolizes the spear that aids in hunting for nourishment but was also used to protect one from harm.” The Rebel collection, in which every piece was hand carved from wax and cast in bronze for a rustic look, signifies the strength and bravery to rebel against the norm and fight for what you believe in.

Both collections are now available at byneekodesigns.com

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STYLE

N AT I V E B L I N G

ACCESSORY BOX Here’s what’s in our accessory box this fall, pieces handpicked by Native Max editor Kelly Holmes featuring ACONAV, SheNative, and NDNCraft

Triangle Leather Earrings, $99, SheNative

SheNative SheNative is a socially driven handbag & accessories company dedicated to empowering Indigenous women, positively impacting the way they are represented in the media, and changing how they are perceived by the rest of the world

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SheNative

Chocolate Brown Buffalo-skin Weekender Bucket Bag, $500, SheNative

Imperial Silk Scarf, $95, ACONAV

NDNcraft

ACONAV Colorful wooden trapezoid earrings, $15, Whurlgurl on NDNcraft.com

Metal inlay earrings, $20, Whurlgurl on NDNcraft.com

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Whispers of the Past necklace, $850, ACONAV

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STYLE

Left: The women of Her 4 Directions; Bottom: Sunglasses beaded by Helen Oro, to see items

by SheNative check out opposite page

FROM ALL DIRECTIONS These creative First Nations women came together from different directions for a unique collaboration of fashion, style and empowerment

BY KELLY HOLMES

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PHOTOGRAPH BY GINA’S PORTRAITS

our First Nations female entrepreneurs and movement makers came together for maybe the most powerful and inspiring collaboration this year.

Her 4 Directions is no doubt an inspirational collective we need to talk about. Initially, when SheNative founder Devon Fiddler met with Marylou Mintram and Candace Atcheynum of Little Bow-tihk, Tori-Lynn Wanotch of First Intimate Apparel, and Helen Oro with her namesake line, it was to talk about having a shared creative studio space. “The purpose of the collective is to have a shared studio space, resources, equipment and to provide support with our startup companies,” explains Fiddler. “We got together with the same purpose of empowering other Indigenous women,” adds Oro. “Our incubator is a cooperative and we offer memberships for our community members, depending on the membership they will be able to come in and use our studio space to work, and use whatever we have to offer them.”

The collective will also offer free workshops geared towards people wanting to start their own businesses.

Devon Fiddler, Cree from Waterhen Lake First Nation, created SheNative, a socially-driven handbag and accessories brand that aims to empower the Indigenous woman. With the mission of helping change the perception of the Indigenous

woman while creating opportunities and supporting Indigenous artisans, suppliers and designers, Fiddler and SheNative hope to motivate Native women to pursue their passions.

“Monetarily, we donate 10% of profits in year 1 to social impact programs that align with our overall mission,” Fiddler explains. “We also ensure that we minimize our eco-footprint through handpicked materials and utilize ethical Canadian suppliers.”

Helen Oro, Plains Cree from Pelican Lake First Nation, had been designing and beading her own jewelry, apparel and sunglasses for a long time but began taking her work seriously the past few years. “Travelling and showcasing across the United States, Canada and overseas really promoting and selling my work, growing the brand that was starting to take shape.” Now with her own brand of beaded heels, accessories, purses and other clothing, Oro plans to take her pieces worldwide to be available in shops and malls and malls, with the mission of creating a positive image for Indigenous women everywhere.

Like Her 4 Directions on Facebook to keep updated on the collective’s meetings, membership opportunities and workshops.

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STYLE

MODERN NATIVE Neeko April incorporates what it means to be a modern Native with her newest collections PHOTOGRAPHER Danny Calderon MODEL Cheyenne Gordon MAKEUP Desiree Belone STYLIST Erica Hernandez

STYLE

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B E A U T Y TA L K

DEVOTED TO BEAUTY Twin sisters Angelica and Erika Chrysler (Delaware/Mohawk) are devoted to beauty and self-confidence. The duo share with us what inspired them to pursue beauty, upcoming projects, and a few of their style tips. PHOTOS BY C. ELLIS RABOTEAU

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n 2003, the oldest twin (by 9 minutes), Angelica Chrysler had already been a part of the beauty industry after graduating from cosmetology school. The twins realized they had a similar artistic eye and a passion for the beauty industry. Erika Chrysler worked tirelessly at her craft while Angelica decided to go to college for business. It was then that their business ‘Devoted 2 Beauty’ manifested itself. Now, both sisters are located in Florida, where they’re signed with agencies in Miami and Orlando.

What’s your tribal affiliation? Where are you girls from?

We have two tribal affiliations: the Lenape (Lunaapeew) People of the Delaware Nation at Moraviantown and the Mohawk from Six Nations in Ontario, Canada. We were born and raised in Detroit, MI, in the urban Native community. While there, we belonged to the Detroit Indian Ed Cultural Center. The cultural center held Saturday school, summer camp, and events throughout the week.

The native community also belonged to the NAIA (North American Indian Association of Detroit). We lived occasionally on the reserve in Canada with our grandparents and oldest sister, too. So, we were fortunate enough to be able to experience both worlds and understand life from both sides.

You mentioned your biggest influence was your mother. How would she accentuate her Native American features?

Our mother had a very colorful personality and with it being the 80’s, she came up with some pretty creative looks. She had incredible almond-shaped eyes where she had so much room to play with in shapes and tones. Her skin was very well taken care of; she was always consistent with her Noxema and Sea Breeze. As we got a

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little older, she taught us the importance of taking care of our skin by using face wash, toners, and moisturizer.

You just did a Cosmo magazine shoot, was this one of your biggest gigs to date?

Thankfully, no. We’ve actually worked with so many different artists, such as Eminem, Andrea Bocelli, Lauryn Hill, Alejandro Sanz, Lenny Kravitz and TV shows with Daisy Fuentes for La Voz Kids, Project Runway LA, Basketball Wives and Wild on E!. We’ve also worked with athletes such as The Miami Heat shooting their championship photos for the season, as well as runway for Funkshion Fashion Week Miami Beach Swim, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Miami Swim, Macy’s, ... and the list goes on! Angelica’s favorite artist to work with was Eminem and Erika’s favorite artist was definitely Lenny Kravitz! Swoon!

Do you have any favorite Native fashion designers?

Absolutely! Our favorites include Bethany Yellowtail with her gorgeous feminine clothing line. We fell in love with Alano Edzerza’s jewelry and designs back in 2009 when we met at GON [Gathering of Nations Powwow]. There we helped do the hair and makeup for the runway show during the Pink Party. I can’t forget Sho Sho Esquiro with her absolutely stunning and creative designs. I was able to do hair for a runway show with some of her pieces, along with Ms. Yellowtails’ designs in Manitoba. Well, I can’t mention Sho Sho without mentioning Ms. Summer Peters… whom I am completely obsessed over. Her beadwork is just flawless.

What is your advice to a young girl who wants to feel beautiful inside and look beautiful on the outside?

STYLE

“The only way to feel beautiful inside is to be the nurturer you are meant to be. Take care of your spirit and your soul” This is something we had to learn on our own as teenagers without a real positive female influence in our life other than our older sisters around us. We as women are nurturers; it’s what we do. So, without the right female influence in our lives, what that actually means can be confusing. Growing up mostly without our mother and witnessing her chaotic life, we began to think that was the norm. Yes, she looked beautiful on the outside, but on the inside there was nothing but guilt, shame, and emptiness struggling with vices such as unhealthy eating and drug and alcohol abuse. Now, please know that we understood that our mother was lost. She suffered as a youth and isolated herself in a world of negativity. Did she love us? Absolutely.

But she didn’t love herself enough. And so we had to become our own positive influence in life… to strive for happiness… for self love… for healing. The only way to feel beautiful inside is to be the nurturer you are meant to be. That means to take care of yourself first; take care of your body. Eat healthy food, drink lots of water, don’t allow toxic substances into your body like drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes. Take care of your mind by educating yourself, whether it’s reading, watching documentaries, listening to audiobooks, and going to school to study something you have a passion for. Take care of your spirit and your soul.

Do you have any makeup tips on how a Native American woman can accentuate her features?

My absolute favorite feature to start with is the skin! That’s right, your mug in the mirror in the morning is what matters most. That means, yes using a moisturizer and SPF. I don’t care if you have dry, flaky, oily, or greasy skin. You need a moisturizer, preferably one with a sunscreen to protect your skin from the aging UV rays (sun).

It will protect against sun damage, dark spots, and wrinkles.

Secondly, my favorite feature are my eyes. So, to look alive and to accentuate the shape, I curl my lashes with a TART curler and pile on the mascara for bottom and top lashes. I prefer waterproof. Then, I can’t forget my brows. I keep them tweezed and shaded in. They shape your face. So for those of you that get tweeze happy, step away immediately and get them done professionally at least once and just follow what they do, then weekly, so you don’t lose the shape they gave you.

And of course my all time favorite feature: the cheek bones. I love love love using a highlighter along with my bronzer. I look healthy, alive, and glowing. Dab on some bronzer for contouring

and some shimmery highlighter for a beautiful, dewy look. To avoid looking greasy, please keep the highlighter above the cheek bone only if you have oily skin.

Do you have any additional fashion or style tips?

No one person will be exactly the same, and no single piece of clothing will look good on everybody. So try everything on, even things you don’t think will look good or even look good on the hanger, but you like the collar or even the color. Do it! I am an advocate for going to Salvation Army or thrift stores, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Ross (basically discounted designer stores) for pretty much everything. I only buy clothes on sale, and buy online if I have to. You can return anything online. On occasion, I do save up for some very special pieces, though. We have to support our Native artists and open up the eyes to the fashion world to what gems we have.

What does the future look like for you girls? Any upcoming projects?

Angelica: I will continue with my freelance career as a makeup and hair artist. I will also be posting videos soon to my YouTube channel at Devoted2Beauty. My videos will feature tips on fashion, beauty, healthy living, and fitness, and of course my occasional perspective on things I hold near and dear to my heart. I will speak on Native culture and other issues that affect our people. I am also currently writing a book about my journey. I know there is so much more to being beautiful on the outside, and I want to share my story to help the youth realize, not only their full potential, but their inner beauty.

Last but not least, I am working on a business plan to open up a holistic healing/wellness center based in Orlando as well as a portable business to help Native families and children deal with their traumas (PTSD, drug & alcohol abuse, family abuse, historical traumas). My focus will be on providing holistic yet scientifically proven treatment that doesn’t involve drugs. The goal is to help families change from the inside out.

Erika: The future for me entails furthering my career in hair, makeup, and skincare. I am currently writing a business plan to start a small personalized consulting company involving the industry I have loved and studied the last 15 years. I’ll be setting up in Miami, but Angelica and I will constantly be working back and forth on each other’s projects. Helping people find their own personal beauty inside and out has always been our passion and now we are going to expand on that to make our dreams in helping people a reality.

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STYLE Actor Kiowa Gordon (Hualapai) tied for 5th place with Christian Weaver (photo by Keahu

Kahuanui)

M EN S ’ ST YLE

Best Dressed Men of Indian Country With an improptu poll, we were able to narrow down today’s best dressed men of Indian Country. We asked, “Who do you think the best dressed man of Indian country is?”, and we were overwhelmed by your responses. We had a few thousand votes come in from multiple countries across 4 continents. It was a very close race, and we did end with a few ties among the top 5.

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Tied for first:

STEVIE SALAS & GIL BIRMINGHAM Tied for first place with the most votes were musician Stevie Salas and actor Gil Birmingham

Gil Birmingham (photo courtesy of Gil)

Stevie Salas, (Apache) has truly done everything.

He recently wrote a book called, “When We Were the Boys,” this book went into great detail of his life in the music industry. He is known for his work with such acts as Rod Stewart, George Clinton, Mick Jagger and Justin Timberlake to name only a few. He has sold solo albums in the millions worldwide. Stevie was the musical director for multiple American Idols.

He has been an Executive Producer for both television and film. He was the recipient of the Native American Life Time Achievement award in 2009 at the Native American Music Awards.

He also served as an advisor to the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of the American Indian.

While he never slows down and is always on the go, it is easy to see how Stevie’s laid back style was chosen by readers to be one of the best-dressed men in Indian Country.

Gil Birmingham, (Comanche) has starred in more than 40 films and

television productions. His most recent credits include the television shows, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Banshee, and The House of Cards. Gil was also a part of the infamous Twilight movie series. He is an accomplished blues rock guitarist and singer as well. Gil’s favorite brand or go to designer is Armani, but when asked how he describes his style he said, “I’m a “keepin’ it real” kind of guy so I gravitate to T-shirts, denim and leather, but for events I tend to go classic chic.” He said his favorite cologne is Eau de Gil, but if he does wear cologne it is Gucci’s Envy for Men. It’s obvious the one thing he never leaves home without, is his fantastic sense of humor. He is a talented, unpretentious man with a huge heart. When asked what message he would like to share with Native youth, he replied, “What I say to young people who I meet in my travels is to be your own hero. The Creator makes no mistakes. You were put here with a purpose to fulfill. We love you and need you.”

Stevie Salas (photo courtesy of Stevie) OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 NATIVEMAX.COM

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Steven Paul Judd (photo by Steven)

Tied for second:

CHASKE SPENCER & STEVEN PAUL JUDD In second place, we had another tie between actor Chaske Spencer and filmmaker/artist Steven Paul Judd Chaske Spencer, (Assiniboine, Nez Perce, Cherokee, and Creek) (not pictured) has taken Hollywood by storm.

Many people hear his name and associate him immediately with the Twilight movie series; however he has done so much more than just that. He is a fabulous actor that has starred in both television and movies; most recently he received praise for his performance as Deputy Billy Raven in Banshee. In 2011, his role as Wesley in Shouting Secrets won him the Best Actor Award in the American Indian Film Festival. This past year he won the Breakthrough performance award at the New York Vision Festival for his role in Desert Cathedral. Nothing will slow Chaske down, and we expect to both see and hear more great things from him in the future.

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Steven Paul Judd, (Kiowa and Choctaw) is best known for his work as an artist. His art work has been featured in festivals, on t-shirts, on movie posters and so much more. He is also a celebrated filmmaker, having directed numerous films, most recently, Headgame and Death Factory. He is currently in pre-production to direct the film Mohawk Salon, a psycho thriller. He wrote, directed and produced the short film Ronnie Bodean. This film is currently getting worldwide attention. He received critical acclaim for the film Shouting Secrets, winner of the 2011 American Indian Movie Award for Best Film, which Steven was a co-writer on. Steven is a modern day Renaissance man and a true king of creativity. It is obvious he has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.

STYLE

Tied for third:

WES STUDI & ADAM BEACH Rounding out third place was a tie between actors Wes Studi and Adam Beach Wes Studi has close to 100 credits to his name in film and television. His numerous roles and fantastic character portrayals over the years have helped crush the Indian Hollywood stereotype. Most recently he has starred in Ronnie Bodean, Avatar, Planes: Fire and Rescue, and Red Road. Wes may in fact be one of the busiest men in the business as he has numerous projects lined up through 2017. He is a straight forward man, talented actor, and extremely quick-witted. When asked if he had a favorite fashion designer, his response was, “Medium –Slim.”

Adam Beach is one of the best known Native American actors in the industry. He has been nominated for several awards including a Golden Globe in 2008 for his work in Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee. Most notably he starred in films such as Windtalkers and Flags of our Fathers. This past summer he filmed the role of Slipknot in the soon to be released, Suicide Squad.

Right: Adam Beach (photo courtesy of Adam) Far right: Wes Studi (photo by Jen Boyer)

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STYLE Fourth place:

CHRISIAN KANE Actor and musician Christian Kane claimed fourth place

Christian Kane (photo

by Mark Delong)

Slipping into fourth place we have Christian Kane, (Cherokee) He is known for his work in both film and television as well as his work in country music. Christian has just completed filming season 2 of the television series, The Librarians, which debuts on November 1st on TNT. He also starred in the hit show Leverage as Elliot Spencer from 2008 -2012. Christian released his country

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rock album, The House Rules, in December of 2010. It debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers album chart and number 25 on the country albums chart. Another passion of his besides acting and music; Christian is an incredible chef. He shares his amazing cooking skills online in his web series Kane’s Kitchen at www.kaneskitchen.com.

STYLE

Christian Weaver (photo by Deanna Gusman)

Kiowa Gordon (photo

by Keahu Kahuanui)

Tied for fifth:

KIOWA GORDON & CHRISTIAN WEAVER Finally, in fifth place there was another tie, between actor Kiowa Gordon, and man of many hats Christian Weaver Kiowa Gordon’s name is synonymous with the Twilight film series; however his credits show so much more.

Recently he starred as Junior in the Red Road and has worked on multiple films. In the last year alone, he filmed Wind Walkers, An Act of War, Heat Wave, Medicine Men, Homecoming, and Calico Skies. When asked how he describes his style, he replied, “I wear what feels right.

Brimble and Clark make some sweet, elegant custom suits that pop, otherwise I work with what I got. I was once told a man makes the suit, a suit can never make the man.”

Kiowa does not always wear cologne, but when he does he goes for Hugo Boss. One message he would like to give to native youth is, “Respect your elders and be good to your fellow man. With that in mind, go for broke on your

dreams.” Kiowa is a very humble man with big dreams and ambition. With his drive and his talent, he will surely go far.

Christian Weaver is a visual artist, philanthropist, powwow dancer, designer, creative director, and business developer. He works building partnerships for the American Indian College fund. Christian also sits on the economic development committee for his tribe, the Shinnecock Nation. He is the creative director for Eastwoods Apparel and Homegoods, as well as the founder of NDNCraft. com. Somehow, he finds time to also sit on the board of Natives and Philanthropy, the City of Denver Facilities and Energy Efficiency Board, and is on the board of directors of the Atlanta-based not-for-profit, Drawchange.

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ART CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Artist Felix Solomon working on a carving; Solomon’s tribe’s Silver Reef Casino features a pole carved by him at the entrance to their new Event Center; this carving depicts two Indians in a canoe going after a salmon which is also being pursued by a snake. The snake represents everything that makes it hard to put salmon on the table.

CEDAR CARVING & STORYTELLING Self-taught cedar carver Felix Solomon took up the ancient Coast Salish art form to keep it alive, and to tell stories. BY JASON FINKBONNER

F

elix Solomon has been keeping the traditional Coast Salish art of cedar-carving alive for nearly 20 years. He is a selftaught carver who strictly works in the Georgia Strait Coast Salish style. Solomon began learning about traditional methods and design through research grants from the Ford Foundation. He traveled to local museums and the Smithsonian archives to sift through all known records of the ancient art. Years of research have allowed him to stay true to the ancient methods of his Lummi ancestors that were nearly lost forever.

He makes many different creations with cedar ranging from masks to totem poles, bent wood boxes to canoes. Solomon has been commissioned to carve a story pole to adorn a new airport expansion in nearby Bellingham. A model of what the finished story pole will look like is pictured. Solomon explains that the pole

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is called “It’s Mine.” It depicts two Indians in a canoe going after a salmon which is also being pursued by a snake. Salmon fishing is the traditional livelihood of the Lummi people.

The snake represents “everything that makes it hard to put salmon on the table,” Solomon explains. He cites his own experience fishing and explains that overfishing, poor state fisheries management, and wasteful practices all led to the depletion of the Lummi livelihood. The diamond pattern on the stands represents the commercialization of fishing in the last century and the 50/50 split of fishing privileges between whites and Indians. Each element of the artwork represents an important issue for Natives, especially the Coast Salish.

Solomon’s taught himself to carve many different pieces of traditional art from cedar. His tribe’s Silver Reef Casino features a pole carved

by Felix at the entrance to their new Event Cen-

ter. The pole, entitled “Evolution of Gambling,” depicts how games and gambling have been a part of Native culture from ancient times to present day. The Indian on the bottom of the pole plays the Slahal stick game which has transcended many generations. The graphic above the player features Coast Salish symbols that represent the history of the tribe. The building above characterizes both the traditional longhouse and its current day embodiment in the casino. The sun dog image on the door says that all are welcome in the house. Above the building is the symbol of the Silver Reef Casino right below a row of concave and convex circles representing the voices of elders and ancestors.

Solomon uses his artwork to raise awareness about Native American issues and to keep the tradition of his ancestors alive. He has mentored others who are new to carving and works out of his home on the Lummi reservation.

ART

POSITIVE VIBES Artist Cyaltsa Finkbonner may be an experienced welder and teacher, but she’s also a talented artist who loves to spread happiness with her works of art. BY JASON FINKBONNER

FROM LEFT: Cyaltsa Finkbonner with her painting “NDN in the Moon”; Finkbonner’s paintings “RISE”, “Rise Above”, “Thunderbird” and “Hands Up”

Can you share with us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Cyaltsa (sahy-alt-suh). My birth name is April A. Finkbonner. I am from the Lummi tribe in Bellingham, WA. I currently live and work in Tukwila, WA as a journeyman ironworker/welding instructor for Local 86. I’ve been a journeyman for 21 years, and teacher for 8 years. In 2011, I was blessed to live and work in Hawaii for almost 3 years.

How did you learn your art?

In 2000, due to a back injury, I took a break from the ironworkers and went to the Art Institute of Seattle and received my AA in multimedia. I took classes such as intro to drawing and sketching, photography, videography, graphic design, and web design; everything except painting, which has been my favorite medium, although I did receive some pointers from my mentor and uncle Patrick Lane.

Why is your work important to you and your heritage?

My work is important to me and my heritage because it is who I am. I am proud to be Lummi.

Our people are a strong people with big hearts and strong traditions, yet, are open to new teachings and growth. My roots are deep, especially when it comes to family. I was raised by 3 families, a little tribe, and for that I am so grateful.

What message does your work convey?

I’m a positive person, and I do my best to let my light shine out and onto others. Every piece of my work has some sort of message and/or story. I strive to inspire with something positive, like love, strength and leadership. There is always someone out there who needs a little trigger, some sort of nudge to stay on the path to happiness and success. I want to promote good vibes, and a feeling of self-worth, and to encourage others to do the same.

How have you kept traditions alive?

Last year, with the lull in the building trades, I had time off from work so I invested that time with my “Uncle Chief,” master weaver, Bill “Tsilixw” James. He was kind enough to teach me how to weave cedar baskets and hats. He also taught me a little bit of our Lummi language, which he is most fluent in.

Visiting with him, listening and learning from him, made me realize that it isn’t my fault that I did not know how to speak our language, or know our traditional ways. It was because it was forced out of the lives of our ancestors. Thankfully, there’s still a few people like him that still carry the knowledge, and are able to pass the teachings onto people like me. I do, and will continue to do my very best to pass it onto our future generations in the best way that I can, with the stories and meanings behind my paintings, drawings and other crafts.

Do you have any words of encouragement you’d like to pass on to the youth who might be reading this?

Be proud of who you are and where you come from. Stay strong, and believe in who you are. Be open to the new, but also it is important to learn our traditional ways. Don’t be ashamed. Be proud. tand tall and be that light, that star that shines so bright. Sky’s the limit, be creative, and share it with the world.

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ART

ARTISTS of TRADITION Coast Salish artists Frank Goes Behind and Jennifer Long learn the traditional techniques of carving and stick-making to carry on both their cultural and familial traditions for generations to come. BY JASON FINKBONNER

JENNIFER LONG

J

ennifer Long’s family comes from a tribe on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. She learned the stick game from her father and brother who were both regarded as very good players. The Slahal game is common to indigenous people all across North America. Coast Salish tradition teaches that the Creator gave the stickgame to the people as an alternative to war.

The game consists of two opposing teams, two striped bones and two plain bones. One team hides the four bones with their hands while the players on the other team must guess which bones are striped and which are plain. Players and observers can place bets on the outcome of the game or on individual players. This game is the origin of gambling in Native culture and its prominence in Native history is the basis for the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The Slahal game is still played today at local events and at sponsored competitions often put on by Native casinos.

The game is scored by sets of sticks that are passed back and forth as a team guesses correctly or incorrectly. Long makes these sticks and sells them at competitions to other players. Each set is unique and can take days to make depending on the detailed designs of the beadwork, carvings, and painting of each stick. She has even had large orders commissioned by casinos like the Silver Reef in Washington state. They used the sets of sticks to decorate their hotel’s guest room to honor the tradition of gambling in Native culture and link it to current practices. Stick-making is a way for Long to carry on her tribal and familial traditions while doing something she enjoys.

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FRANK GOES BEHIND

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rank Goes Behind began his artistic aspirations in high school when he was inspired by the traditional art of his Nooksack tribe. He is a drummer, singer, dancer, carver, tattoo artist, and storyteller of Coast Salish legends. His work is motivated by his love of Native culture and heritage. He admires the functional art of his ancestors, especially how tools and natural items were embellished with art. His art is mostly self-taught through observation and incorporates Coast Salish tradition and Plains styles.

He has passed on the traditions he has learned by teaching traditional song and dance at the local tribal school. Frank believes that it is important for “each generation to remember its foundation” because knowing where we came from is the only way to maintain “self-pride and self-preservation.” For Frank, what intrigued him about the love of art was “being able to study the history of our Native cultures, the use of natural items, [and] the evolution of the [tools] we use” for that art. He explains that “as Native American people, our form of surviving was being able to adapt to the new things around us; taking what we need and leaving the rest.” He sees this adaptation through the incorporation of the newer tools he uses in creating his art. For Frank, the preservation of Native art forms is important so we can know whom and where we come from.

The cedar carvings on the wall of Frank’s shop pay homage to the animals of the sea, land, and sky; he likes to keep the representation of each balanced.

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FEATURE

Artist of

Style Upon meeting Northern Cheyenne/Crow artist Ben Pease, it may be difficult to bear the fact he left his successful football career to pursue his truest passion. After listening to his story, we realized his choice, in hindsight, was not only for art, but himself, his family, and their future.

BY KELLY HOLMES PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZOE FRIDAY

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FEATURE What’s your tribal affiliation? Where are you from?

My tribal affiliation lies with the Northern Cheyenne tribe in southeastern Montana. Predominantly, my blood ties are directly connected to the Crow, Northern Cheyenne, and Hidatsa, with slight seasonings of Cree, Ojibwe, German, and English (a true physical product of imposition). I was raised on and around the Crow reservation which was gerrymandered smack dab up against the Northern Cheyenne reservation.

When did you first notice you were an artist? What was your favorite art medium in your younger years?

I distinctly remember the appearance of my gifts when I was a young pup, specifically around 3 or 4 years. My beginnings as an artist took root in graphite drawings, pen, and even paint. Imitation was the name of the game. My early inspira-

tions were drawn from everyday life like the funny papers, history books, and also drawing from life. I strove as a young budding artist to capture the form and proportion of my subjects, which proved to be a difficult task.

How did moving to the southwest inspire you as an artist even more?

My mother’s professional career in education and museum ventures presented me with the chance to live in various locations around Montana and even into Arizona. Our travels brought us to Phoenix, Arizona where my mother gained a position at the Heard Museum, which in turn opened my being to all the beauty of the world of southern indigenous creations and histories. The time spent in Arizona opened my eyes to the possibilities as an artist. Mostly I spent my childhood in small Montana towns like Lodge Grass and Hardin.

You mentioned before that you were a very successful athlete. Can you explain to us your athletic career?

My abilities as an athlete had most always taken precedence to my artistic skills. Basketball has been engrained into my identity, as it had been with countless indigenous people. Football was taken up as a challenge in my 5th grade year, mainly to shed my baby fat. In high school I pursued cross country, football, basketball, and track & field. My skills in football led me to compete at the NCAA collegiate level.

What was the turning point for you, to decide being an artist over being an athlete?

I was pursuing a Bachelor in Fine Arts, which also meant I was perfecting the objective and conceptual skills needed in my craft. As the artistic improvement continually presented itself, realization came in the form of admirers, positive critiques, personal approval, and occasional sales. The positive influences gave me the drive and confidence to represent the ideals and positions of a modern-day storyteller, to stand for the contemporary governmental relations and experiential inclusion of cultures. So, I had found my path.

The most influential and important aspect was family. My wife and I found out we were to have a baby boy, so naturally, the life of a college jock offered a non-conducive environment. In effect, we chose to hit the open road to Bozeman, Montana.

What are your preferred mediums?

I find working in a specific medium to be a very limiting task. I am continually working towards mastering multiple mediums. Being able to bring forth my visions with various mediums and techniques lends to the aesthetic beauties and contextual interests. Recently I’ve been working with oil, acrylic, graphite, ink, video, photography, sculpture, performance, and textiles.

Where do you find the most inspiration?

Influence comes in many forms. For one, the predisposed nature of cultural creativity. To have a cultural conscience is “to be”. I attribute my skills to the at least 40,000 years of Native artists before

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FEATURE me. Our ancestors were masters of the utilitarian art form, which they bestowed unto the children, us. In my opinion, these gifts perfected over millennia given solely through DNA, historical references, and oral traditions, act as the basis and motivation to be a Native/indigenous creative mind. Only one with the history, knowledge, and ability has the right to act as so.

Do you find inspiration from fellow Native artists as well?

My current inspirations stem from the narrative work of various ethnic artists, storytellers, activists, and cultural elders.

I could go on, but here are a few artistic influences -Brian Jungen, Glenn Ligon, Tony Abeyta, Jaune-Quick-To-SeeSmith, Fritz Scholder, Nocona Burgess, Kevin Red Star, Lucian Freud, John Trudell, Bunky Echo-Hawk, and on and on.

Do you feel your personal style reflects off your art, or vice versa?

To support Native American fashion artists and designers is to assist the “People” as a whole to move forward via positive routes. So, yes, my individuality is expressed through my choice of clothing.

My decision to buy and wear “Native” represents my will to protect and retain our individual traditional identities. I highly encourage you folks to do the same!

We as contemporary creatives must always wear awareness on our shoulder. As a conglomeration of new-day storytellers, we must let our ideas and creations churn.

What’s your go -to outfit?

I gravitate to dressing for function. I compliment my culturally conscious t-shirt with fresh Levi’s, leather belt, a pair of my handy dandy N7’s, a watch or

man.

Recently I had to opportunity to curate and exhibit in “Color Me INDIGENOUS” at the Danforth Art Gallery in Livingston, Montana spotlighting five other established and emerging regional Native artists: John Pepion, Dvera Tolbert, Louis Still Smoking, Lauren Monroe Jr., and Robert Martinez. The show will hang until October 21st.

Friday the 13th, the Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings I will host a Paint ‘N’ Sip event.

Instagram spotlighting my work in the for ‘Celebration of Native American Culture’.

What’s the idea behind ‘Sells His Visions’, the moniker of your business?

The moniker ‘Sells His Visions’ lends to an earlier period in my career. I desired a designation that was immediately recognizable and attractive. My inspi-

I ATTRIBUTE MY SKILLS TO THE AT LEAST 40,000 YEARS OF NATIVE ARTISTS BEFORE ME. OUR ANCESTORS WERE MASTERS OF THE UTILITARIAN ART FORM, WHICH THEY BESTOWED UNTO THE CHILDREN, US. How would you explain your personal style?

If I do have style, it’s mainly led by my need for a utilitarian wardrobe. I like to dress professionally when needed, complimented by Native-made jewelry.

When I’m looking for something a little more culturally-relevant, I’ll turn to a Native designer piece or a local tribal event t-shirt, like a diabetes walk or domestic abuse awareness. I’ve recently made a vow to only purchase Native/ First Peoples’ designed tops, like sweaters, shirts, and jackets.

What Native-designed pieces do you find yourself wearing?

In my collection, I have Crow fashion designer B. Yellowtail (big sis), Jared Yazzie’s OXDX, Louis Still Smoking’s Still Smoking Designs, Topah Spoon Hunter’s Two Dogs and a Bear, and a piece from fellow artist Steven Paul Judd.

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beaded bracelet, and a possible selection of flat billed hats.

How do you balance being a family man, a student, and an artist with your own business?

First and foremost, family comes first! Being that I am still studying my undergraduate degree, I prioritize my schooling efforts before my art career.

Business will come and go, especially in this economy in the art business.

1. Family 2. School 3. Art business 4. Practice being cool Do you have any upcoming projects or exhibits we should watch out for?

My work is constantly in a state of flux.

I have gallery representations around Montana -the Catherine Louisa Gallery in Billings, Copper Sun Gallery in Big Fork, and Four Winds Gallery in Boze-

ration was drawn from the pure nature of aesthetic creation, and what may be interpreted from that. Throughout my journey, I’ve come to the realization that art should not be created for the sole purpose of sale. So, in short, the name is under current evolution as I am reevaluating the context. I am no longer in the business just to paint a pretty picture or a romanticized notion. Keep your eyes peeled for a new interpretation!

Shirt, B.Yellowtail x Ben Pease collaboration; pants, shoes, watch, Pease’s own

FEATURE

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FEATURE Acoma Pueblo multimedia artist and engineer LOREN ARAGON is certainly proving he can push the bounderies of traditional technique while exploring modern art forms.

MASTER OF THE ARTS

BY KELLY HOLMES

S

PHOTOS BY LOREN ARAGON

ince early childhood, Acoma Pueblo multimedia artist Loren Aragon was always an artist. “I’ve seen works of mine saved by my mother, back to about the age of 4,” he tells me. “I did a lot of illustration growing up, working mostly with graphite on paper, and some watercolor.” Aragon first dabbled in pottery-making and sculpting animal figurines with his mother, who was an educator and art teacher at their community’s school. “She taught me about our cultural art in pottery-making and introduced me to modern art, encouraging my imagination to span across various mediums.”

By the time Aragon reached high school, he just about touched on every art medium in visual arts there is, but mastering colored pencils and inks. Despite being so multi-talented, Aragon seemed to gravitate towards illustration. Aragon became so confident in illustration, he started a small greeting cards business that helped him through college.

It wasn’t until after college and settling down with his wife that Aragon really started to explore the realm of fine art. “I always had the passion to get back into my cultural art of pottery-making, however starting into my career as an engineer took precedence and kept me busy with travel and being on call.” Crediting his wife for suggesting other mediums to consider, Aragon tried his hand at pyrography (wood-burning).

“I had researched the advances in the art form and found a liking for it, especially when it became profitable.”

Call it boredom or a need for something more challenging. Aragon wanted to explore other mediums of fine art and

discovered Gourd art. “This is really what triggered the passion for fine art, with it being new to the Native arts,” he explains. “It’s what got me into Santa Fe Indian Market along with my introductory jewelry-making, using more uncommon materials such as wood and gourd.”

Since members of his family were also experienced artists, Aragon became an apprentice to his uncle, who worked with sterling silver and lapidary.

“Through his lessons I was able to take on metalwork more fluently and began to formulate my own style, even made my own discoveries along the way.” At this point, Aragon is in love with metal forming, and will pick up the medium again as soon as his schedule allows.

The foundation of all of Aragon’s inspirations come from his Acoma culture, history, stories and traditions. “I’m also inspired by technology, the ever-evolving world, and the feedback from patrons, viewers, followers, and admirers of my work.”

Although Aragon incorporates Acoma ancestral designs into his works, he severs his art from the conventional practices of the Acoma Pueblo people. “I feel I don’t have enough experience to say I know everything about our cultural art forms and I’ve jumped into a number of things that are completely outside of our ancestral arts. This is where I feel severed.” However, Aragon challenges himself to make connections back to the Acoma traditional arts, stories, traditions, and even language. “I do this by tying what is recognizable and symbolic of Acoma and putting it into more modern art forms. It’s a demonstration really, especially to our newer generations.” Aragon strongly encourages the Acoma youth to practice ancestral arts, and to expand their creativity beyond that and into modern art. “I feel it is very important to preserve traditional art forms across Native America. Much like our sacred practices and languages, it identifies us and is an expression of our enduring existence.”

Becoming a mechanical engineer was certainly a reward-

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FEATURE Left: Aragon’s models, wearing designs that graced the New York Fashion Week runway this past September

ing achievement to his educational career. “It’s great to be utilizing my skills and knowledge in a field that helps ‘improve’ the world. It’s exciting to be a part of projects that keep me involved in problem-solving and using my hands to construct things.” Aragon admits he’s constantly learning about and adapting to the world accordingly.

As technology is continuously evolving, so is he. “Research makes up a large percentage of the engineering practice and I think research is what has helped shape my artistic ability. It’s made me more efficient in what I do, from finding cheaper, quicker ways to doing something while maintaining quality.”

Aragon finds a connection between engineering and jewelry-making or metalworking, which may explain why these are his favorite art forms. “I’m constantly making connections back to my past mediums and it’s a fun challenge to finding ways to combine them.” Art is Aragon’s escape from limitations, constraints and rules of engineering. “In art, I’m free to do anything I want; free to exercise techniques and unload knowledge to create something that is truly a part of me, with the rest of the world.”

Aragon’s ingeniousness isn’t only tied to art, as fashion has recently entered his life. Aragon learned how to sew from his mother and aunt, who have both been seamstresses for most of their lives, specializing in mostly traditional attire. “I felt I could make another connection with home by taking on and progressing their work. I had two of the best teachers at hand so why not?” Aragon took notice of the lack of modern fashions created by Native Americans (specifically Pueblo tribal members), and fashions that were inspired by the Native American people were designed by non-Native designers who ripped off traditional Native designs. “I think that really triggered an interest in fashion were other fashions I had seen hit the runway that had me saying, ‘really, that’s fashionable?’” Throughout the years Aragon noticed his mother and aunt shop for fabrics that claimed to be “Pueblo-inspired” or “southwest-inspired” patterns, none of which had enough of a distinction to be called Acoma.

Aragon’s first step onto the fashion scene was when he premiered some of his first pieces in the Survival of the

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First Voices Festival’s #SurvivalMode Fashion Show. His next show was at IFAM x Native Jewelers’ Society x BBB Jewelry Showcase Fashion Show during Santa Fe Indian Market week about a month ago. Aragon captured more attention when Santo Domingo Pueblo model and stylist Daphne Coriz wore his custom-made gown during this year’s Miss Native American USA pageant.

Aragon’s biggest event to date was presenting his collection at Plitzs New York City Fashion Week, which happened during New York Fashion Week. “The experience was phenomenal! New York was not a goal I expected to reach this year so the entire experience was just so exciting!” Aragon admits being a bit nervous, as he had to complete at least twenty looks for the show, meanwhile working at his job. “I’m grateful to the support given by my employer to make this work for me and to be able to have the time allowed to focus on the event.

It’s New York Fashion Week so I had to bring something new and present something that would introduce the Acoma Pueblo to the fashion world.”

Aragon presented up to 20+ gowns to the packed Hotel Pennsylvania conference room downtown New York City that he created just for fashion week. The whole NYFW collection was a cohesion of 5 smaller collections –The Matriarch Series, The Hidden Ancestry Series, The Harvest Series, The Broken Ground Series and The Shattered Series– and took a little over 3 weeks to complete, according to Aragon. Many of the ACONAV designs exhibited ancestral pottery culture with a mix of monochrome and polychrome patterns. “Every piece was designed on inspiration drawn from my Acoma Pueblo pottery culture and the traditional dress of our women,” he admits. “Above all, there is a greater inspiration drawn from our matriarchal lineage in which women, our mothers, are to be respected and held in high regard.”

Only a few weeks later and Aragon is already seeing doors open a little wider for him and ACONAV after the appearance in New York. “I’m getting more inquiries about my work in general, how one can purchase, where will I show next, more interviews, and models asking to be a part of this experience!”

Aragon’s hopes for presenting his collection on a bigger stage was to gain more exposure not just as a fashion designer, but as a fine art and jewelry artist as well.

“There are so many ideas scattered about my studio. I hope to find a balance to bring forth more of everything.”

The next year is shaping up to be busy for Aragon, who has several immediate projects in the works. “More weddings, and pageants to plan for. So far I’m booked for one other runway gig in October. Preparing applications for upcoming art shows in New Mexico and Arizona. I’m working on building inventory in all mediums. Trying to find that balance and excited about new fashion looks to try.”

FEATURE

SUCCESS in the

SOUTHWEST For the Native American art scene, the ending of summer becomes an exciting time for artists and audiences alike. Native Max art editor Daryl Begaye traveled to the second annual Indigenous Fine Art Market in Santa Fe to talk with artists about their mediums, experiences, and how they enjoyed this year’s IFAM

BY DARYL BEGAYE ADDITIONAL EDITING BY KELLY HOLMES

O

h yes! It was once again that time of year, when prices on accommodations skyrocket, parking becomes near impossible to find and expensive. The time of year when the streets of the small town become fashion-central surrounded by window-shopping runways, instead of chemically-compacted passageways.

Haven’t figured it out yet? Or where? We’re talking about Indian Market weekend in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the only time and place you’ll see people swooning over their favorite Native artists like they’re movie stars.

However, there is a new market on the block (pun intended). For the second year, the Indigenous Fine Arts Market –IFAM for short– took over the Santa Fe Railyard Park in downtown Santa Fe. This time, boasting a diverse collection of over 400 master and beginning artists,

IFAM included experienced Indian Market veterans who were snuffed

by SWAIA. Despite being a new market going on its second year, IFAM again drew crowds of people looking to meet their favorite artist, or to discover somebody new. Whether they were established or beginning artists thirsting for exposure (such as this writer and artist of course), IFAM had it all. Unlike the other 2-day market in town, IFAM is a 3-day market; being on Thursday and ending on Saturday. Overlapping with the other market is just enough to allow visitors time to visit both markets.

Although I was an artist at IFAM (yes I was at IFAM), I still had a duty (not that type of duty) to Native Max of covering IFAM. So on Saturday, the last day, I finally found relief to catch up with some very talented artists from all over Indian Country.

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FEATURE

GEORGE ALEXANDER IAIA student and painter George Alexander (Creek) has been an artist for as long as he can remember.

Alexander is currently working on a series called Searching for Hesaketvmese (God), which explores the inquisitive nature that is mankind’s curiosity to finding the truth when looking into the night sky.

“From observing the stars myself, through the lens of my own telescope, I can’t help but think about all of life’s big questions such as: why are we here, and where are we going?” Alexander admits about his series. “These stars have seen more history than we all have. It made sense to listen to the collected knowledge over the existence of the universe.” According to Alexander, by using mathematics, science, technology and our own history, we have started to understand what the cosmos are saying.

“This discussion started to make me wonder what it was that we were saying back.” With his series, Alexander starts with cultural motifs and blends curiosity of the past and present.

This year was Alexander’s second year at IFAM. “I think that it has potential to become something greater than what it is already. I think anytime artists can show their work is awesome, especially when it is Native artists.”

Check out Alexander’s works at facebook.com/ndgnsartist

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FEATURE

DONOVAN YAZZIE Donovan Yazzie (Navajo), born and raised in White Cone, Arizona, is certainly far from home. Now living in the Bay Area in California, Yazzie specializes in bronze and metal sculptures, as well as oil and acrylic paintings. Yazzie’s been involved in art ever since grade school back in the 1970’s, having won awards in youth art contests. In the late 1990’s, Yazzie worked during the day as a welder, and took on silversmithing by night. “I have always created art for my own enjoyment,” he explains. “And in 2007 I realized that I could really do something with my experiences and passion.” This was when Yazzie began to create bronze and metal sculptures as well as paintings in a more serious way.

Although this was Yazzie’s first year at IFAM, he’s had his share of art shows over the years. “I have sold various shows over the years– SWAIA, the Heard Museum’s Guild Indian Fair and Market, Autry American Indian Arts Marketplace. I enjoyed the atmosphere at IFAM.” Yazzie admits to liking how the artists’ booths were set up in a single file line.”It was set up in such a way where even when there were a lot of people, I did not feel overly crowded. The staff was friendly. I also enjoyed meeting talented artists who participated in the show.”

Check out Yazzie’s works at donyaz.com

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JENNIFER WHITE Arikara abstract painter Jennifer White’s focus is to create work that is able to convey an emotional aspect as well as intellectual. “I believe my work to have more human characteristics,” she says. “There are imperfections and blemishes that make it truly unique and beautiful.”

White has traveled all over the country for art shows, and received positive feedback for her art. “So far the world has embraced me enough to know I will be successful as a professional artist. I’m so grateful for that.”

Participating in IFAM was White’s first show in the southwest, and brought back her hope for honesty and passion for Native art, in which she feels has been absent during the Santa Fe Indian Market the past few years. “To be honest, I found Santa Fe to be desensitized to the beauty of art. There’s a passion that is lacking, like a marriage where sex is no longer needed.” White believed the art was being taken for granted, as the public looked to be disengaged to the artists. “There needs to be a better sense of community for the artists themselves. I felt very detached from the other artists and we are why IFAM exists right?”

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WIL PAUL ARVISO From drawing in the sand with a pointed stick as a child to becoming a full-time, self-employed jeweler and painter, Wil Paul Arviso (Navajo) has certainly come a long way. A transparent watercolor artist since the mid 80’s, Arviso’s watercolor concepts consists of southwestern landscapes, wildlife and portrait, to Native-themed subjects. Arviso recently picked up jewelry making, designing and creating handmade southwestern-style jewelry and contemporary inlay jewelry; he even designs yoyos.

Between his art and jewelry, his works were picked up by art collectors and buyers from California to Florida, even from around the world. “From the Four Sacred Mountains to far away foreign countries, my artwork can now be viewed across Mother Earth” he tells us.

Arviso enjoyed his second appearance at this year’s IFAM, and will continue to show his art at the market time and time again. He admits that IFAM gave him the opportunity to show and sell his art without going through a middleman. “It also helps me make a name for myself and I get to meet other world class artists firsthand. The IFAM staff rocks in my book.”

Check out Arviso’s works at facebook.com/WilPaulArvisoSouthwestNativeFineArtsJewelry

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RORY ERLER WAKEMUP

MARTIN E. RED BEAR The intricacy of artist Martin E. Red Bear’s (Oglala/Sicangu Lakota) creations can never be overlooked. Red Bear, an alum of University of New Mexico, College of Santa Fe and IAIA, is experienced in acrylic, watercolor and mixed media on canvas, paper and tanned hides.

His works can be found in private, college and museum collections around the country.

Red Bear enjoyed his second year at IFAM, and even advised younger artists to participate in the market.

“The atmosphere is great for this art exhibit. Younger artists should apply to the IFAM show because as a new show they would get great exposure.”

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Artist Rory Erler Wakemup (Chippewa) wasn’t alone at this year’s IFAM. “Darth Chief”, the artist’s alter ego made into a mascot hunter, made his debut at the market. Playing with what was appropriate and inappropriate in regards to using Native American imagery is what inspired Wakemup to create “Darth Chief”. “I then created ‘Darth Chief’ to battle offensive mascots such as the banned mascot ‘Chief Illinewik’ that still performs at unofficial events” Wakemup explains.

This year was Wakemup’s second time at IFAM. Wakemup spent the last year creating “Darth Chief” and orchestrated a performance especially for IFAM, but was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. “Aside from the scheduling debacle on the performance stage that resulted in my performance being cancelled, everything about my IFAM experience was great.”

Check out Wakemup’s works at sites.google.com/site/rorywakemup

FEATURE

SAGE JOSEPH HAGAN For Sage Joseph Hagan (Aluet), inspiration stems from the skateboarding and graffiti scene in the desert, which still influences his work today. Hagan has been painting for over five years, skilled in spray paint and acrylic. “I paint imagery that connects to my soul through the history around me and the people who were here before us,” Hagan explains. “I try to ask and answer questions through my art.”

Hagan has participated in IFAM since its beginning, and will continue to for years to come. “IFAM could not have come at a better time for Santa Fe,” he admits. “It’s a great opportunity to show your work to the masses and to be in such an inspiring place.”

Skateboarding and its accompanying art culture is the influence behind artist Keith Secola’s (Northern Ute/Anishinaabe) unique artistic style. Secola’s works highly differ from fellow artists’, as his paintings are based off of modern, graphic styles of illustration and painting while depicting modern Native imagery with an influence of street art.

This was the first year at IFAM for Secola, in which he admits was successful. “I was able to meet and connect with some very talented artists around Indian Country.

I’m looking forward to participate more in the future.”

Check out Hagan’s works at sagejoseph.com

Check out Secola’s works at keithsecola.blogspot.com

KEITH SECOLA

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DUHON JAMES Navajo artist Duhon James’ artistic expertise isn’t defined by one category. James’ talents are in ceramics and printmaking, sometimes with mix media. “I’ve been working with these mediums for more than three years now,” James tells us. “As for right now, it is painting and the representation is weaving coming from my perspective.” James, born in Ganado, AZ, recently graduated from IAIA with a Bachelor in Fine Arts.

James credits IFAM as an art market that gives upand-coming artists an opportunity to display their art.

“Being part of IFAM 2015 has grown from last year and giving upcoming artists that opportunity to sell and display their artworks, jewelry and sculptures.”

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A self-described explorer, adventurer, warrior, designer and artist, Jeff DeMent (Navajo) has lived his life in full circle. “From innocent childhood to military combat, death, destruction and violence” he explains. Now, DeMent brings beauty and a sense of peace back into the world through art and traditional Navajo silversmithing. He handcrafts with tufa casting, a traditional technique of silversmithing that dates back to the 1800s. “My original designs are handcarved into tuff, a compressed volcanic ash commonly called tufa rock, to create a mold” DeMent then heats the mold and pours molten silver into it to form each piece. After annealing, the silver is then hand cut, filed and formed into shape, then high-grade turquoise is inlayed into a bezel. “Turquoise has spiritual energy and characteristics of strength, protection and power,” DeMent adds.

“Silver is known to increase perception, feeling, awareness, creating a sense of balance and calmness. Since it is a great conductor of energy, it enhances turquoise, conducting its energy to the person who wears it.” This ultimately means each and every piece of DeMent’s contemporary jewelry is traditionally handmade, filled with energy, and created with passion.

This year’s IFAM was DeMent’s second art show ever.

The Heard Museum’s art market was his very first, but DeMent admits IFAM was amazing. “I was honored to have been included with so many top artists. The energy and atmosphere were great.”

Check out DeMent’s works at dinemetalworks.com

DEMENT, JEWELRY: PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEMENT

JEFF DEMENT

FEATURE

A SUMMER OF ART Several more Native artists were able to show their art at IFAM this year, including Stacey E. Cary and his traditional Laguna Pueblo pottery (1,2); Charletta Yazzie (3), John I. King (4), Leonard & Chauncey Peltier (5), and Orlando Allison (6)

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