Art in Our Lives: Native Women Artists in Dialogue

A publication that grew out of the conversations of a group of Native women artists speaking frankly about the roles, responsibilities, and commitments in their lives while balancing this existence with their art practice. Finding common ground, they started out as a small group of six that eventually grew to eleven, ranging in age from seventy to twenty-seven with backgrounds as diverse as their ages. Together they recognized their common experiences, acknowledging that what they shared was not unique to them since other Native women artists could speak to similar life realities. How often such experiences were actually shared became the larger issue, and initiated the publication of this collection of essays. In 2007 and 2008, these artists participated in three seminars at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe, which ultimately led to a one-day exhibition and artist panel discussion at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. Diverse in media and content, the artworks of this original group of Native women are featured as plates in this volume along with contextualizing artist statements. The chapters reflect common threads that prevailed in group discussions; nuanced topics like gender, home/crossing, and art as healing/art as struggle. Artist included in this publication include Gloria J. Emerson (Diné), Sherry Farrell Racette (Timiskaming First Nation), Erica Lord (Athabaskan/ Iñupiaq/Finnish/Swedish/English/Japanese), Felice Lucero (San Felipe Pueblo), Eliza Naranjo Morse (Santa Clara Pueblo), Diane Reyna (Taos Pueblo/Ohkay Owingeh), Heidi K. Brandow (Navajo/Native Hawaiian), Lara Evans (Cherokee), Shannon Letandre (Anishinaabe/Cree), TahNibaa Naataanii (Diné), and Dyani Reynolds-White Hawk (Sicangu Lakota/German/Welsh). Edited by Cynthia Chavez Lamar and Lara Evans Published by the School for Advanced Research Press, 2010 Softcover, 152 pages, 8.5 × 10 inches ISBN: 978-1-93-469137-3