Gallup Inter-Tribal Announces 2008 Prize Winners

William Ernest Waites, reporting from New Mexico

I'm a little late getting this out. Actually it took a couple of weeks to even receive the results. Then, publication got caught up a gazillion other things connected with returning home and logging in new pieces we acquired.

But it's never too late. At least, not until the next Inter-Tribal, which is scheduled for August 12-16, 2009 in Gallup, New Mexico.

So here are the results for 2008 -

Best Lapidary – Benson Manygoats, Navajo (Reversible “Shush” Necklace - $45,000)

Best Pottery – Delores Curran, Santa Clara (Traditional clay pot sgraffito - $4,500)

Metal Smithing – Earl Plummer, Navajo (Squash Blossom with Turquoise - $11,000)

Baskets – Sally J Black, Navajo, (Coiled basket – yucca materials -$5,500)

Tribal Arts – J.T. Willie, Navajo, (Southern Dance Outfit -7 pieces- $5,000)

Katchina & Wood Carved Figures – Jon Cordero, Hopi/Cochiti, (Snow Maiden Spirit - $25,000)

Paintings – Sammy Myerson, Navajo, (Sandpainting “Emergence of 5 Worlds”-$390)

Sculpture – Charles Pratt, Cheyenne/Apache, (Laura Cannon - cast bronze-metal fabricate flowers) $6,500)

Textiles – Grace Nez, Navajo, Lena Nez, daughter, Old-style Ganado rug, custom spun, hand-dyed, churro wool, 8’ x 10’ - $24,000

Youth Painting – Fred Peters Jr., Navajo – 18 years old Yei Ba Chi Dancer (acrylic paint with needle, $480)

Poster 2009 - Tom Clark, Navajo – Sand painting – blue ribbon

We always enjoy the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. The setting in Red Rocks State park, the night and daytime parades down Gallup's Route 66, all add up to a great experience.

If you are in the area next August, I'd put this event on my calendar.

You're invited to visit our web sites at ZuniLink, Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLink and TribalWorks over the coming weeks. We are adding new items as fast as we can photograph and upload them. It's not too early to start holiday/Christmas shopping. By the way, while we are adding new carvings, we are offering 20%-off our fetish carvings to loyal readers of this blog who ask for it. We anticipate the offer will end sometime in October. We recommend you not hesitate if you see something you like.

Intertribal Ceremonial Parade - 2008

Greetings from New Mexico.

Saturday, August 9, was the parade for the 87th Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial in downtown Gallup, New Mexico. I was there with my trusty digital camera as part of our annual visit to New Mexico. We come here to find new examples of Native American art for our websites at ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com and Native-PotteryLink.com.

Here are scenes from the parade:

Native Americans are fiercely patriotic and active participants in US Armed Forces. They are represented here by a color guard. And, of course, every parade has its Queens, Princesses and Miss's. The beautiful young lady shown below is slated for greatness. When she saw my camera in the crowd, she stopped to make sure I got a good shotNavajo people and all Native Americans are justly proud of the Navajo Code Talkers and their contribution to Allied Victory in the World War II.

The Navajo Nation Band makes an appearance.

A parade in Gallup and especially among Native Americans is very much of a "family affair". This young princess leaves the procession to greet members of the crowd. One of the things that strikes me, as an observer of Indian culture, is how extensively they relate to to each other as "family." It is value system we all could emulate. Many Native dance groups were included.

Deer dancers.

This group of Navajos presented a precision drill with Navajo blankets, moving them from folded over the shoulder to opened in front as they interwove with each other on the march.

The Zuni Pueblo band also marched and played.

Princesses come in all sizes.

Zuni deer dancers performed.

Wisely, the horses were left for last, bringing up the rear, so to speak.

We hope you enjoyed the parade. We loved it.

Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Top Arts Winners

The top winners of the 2007 Gallup (NM) Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Arts and Crafts Awards were announced this week.

Best of Show was awarded to Grace Nez for a large, any technique or style, over 45 square feet.

Best of Class Awards were given by the judges to the following entries –

Ron Bedonie for Metalsmithing/ Fabricated from sheet and wire/ Woman’s Belt.
Ernest Benally for Lapidary Arts/ Mosaic Inlay/ Matched set, ladies.
Edith Tsabetsaye for Lapidary Arts/ Needlepoint/ Ring.
Rosanne Ghate for Tribal Arts/ Dolls and Utilitarian Items/ Dolls, beaded or quill.
John King for Paintings/ Traditional Native American.
R.H. Goodluck for Sculpture/ Stone Sculpture/ Stone, over 24”, largest dimension. This entry also received a Special Award.
Damian Toya for Pottery/ Traditional Pueblo Carved Pottery/ Wedding vases, canteens, vases and traditional shapes not listed, any size.
Linda Hendrix for Baskets/ Coiled Technique/Tohono O’odham, 3” to 15”.

Best of Category awards were granted as follows:

Lorraine Begay Manavi for Textiles/Tapestry/80 Threads or more per vertical inch - Hand-spun, Native Wool, Natural Colors.
Elizabeth Begay for Textiles/ Tapestry/80 Threads or more per vertical inch - Natural-Like Colors.
Ella Rose Perry for Textiles/Tapestry/Less then 15 square inches - Hand-spun, Native Wool, Natural Dyes.
Ellen Begay for Textiles/Synthetic Dyes/Red Rug, 15 to 45 square feet.
Helena Nez for Textiles/Pictorial/Sandpainting Rug, 15 to 45 square feet, also received a Special Award.
Judy Marianito for Textiles/Innovations/Woven goods, Wool or cotton, Kilts, Dressss and Skirts.
Lula Brown for Textiles/Minature Weavings – Any set of miniature weavings individually smaller than 12” x 12”.
Jonathon C. Cordero for Kachinas & Carved Wooden Figures/Kachina dolls carved of cottonwood/ Figures over 12” in height/ Pueblo carvers only.
Marlin Pinto for Kachinas & Carved Wooden Figures/ Non-Kachina figures carved of cottonwood/ Figure over 8”, but less than 12” high/Pueblo carvers only.
Alfred Lomahquahu for Kachinas & Carved Wooden Figures/ Concept of cottonwood/Pueblo carvers only.
Lawrence Jaquez for Kachinas & Carved Wooden Figures/ Non-Pueblo figures/Non-Pueblo carvers only/ Non-Pueblo figures/ Figure over 8”, but less than 12” high.
Harrison Jim for Metal Smithing/ Tufa, Sand or Lost Wax Casting/ Squash Blossom, also received a Special award.
Clarence Lee for Metalsmithing/ Overlay and Applique/ Belt.
D. Cadman for Metalsmithing/ Flatware, Hollowware, Boxes/ Boxes with lid.
Benson Manygoats for Lapidary Arts/ Channel Inlay/ Necklace or choker.
Glenda Eriacho for Lapidary Arts/ Cluster/ Matched set, ladies.
Jeff Tsalabutie for Lapidary Arts/ Lapidary Arts Not Mounted/ Fetish carving, less than 3”, largest dimension.
Pearl Sewemaenewa for Baskets/ Wicker Techniques/ Hopi, 3” to 15” .
Alberta Selina for Baskets/ Miniature Baskets/ Any item.
Virginia Ballenger for Tribal Arts/ Wearing Apparel and Accessories/ Dresses, cloth, not beaded.
Duane Dishta for Tribal Arts/ Ceremonial Items/ Drums, pueblo or plains.
Randy Keedah, Sr. for Paintings/ Representational, all media/ Landscape.
Peterson Yazzie for Paintings/ Contemporary Style, all media/ Landscape.
James King for Paintings & Sculpture/ Miniatures, any media/ Animal subjects.
Joe Ben for Paintings & Sculpture/ Sandpaintings/ Non-ceremonial subject matter.
Charles Pratt for Sculpture& Pottery/ Metal Sculpture/ Cast metal, 18” to 36” .
Troy Sice for Sculpture & Pottery/ Clay, Wood, Bone & Miscellaneous Sculpture Realistic or Impressiionistic .
Joseph & Barbara Cerno for Pottery/ Traditional Pueblo Pottery, Painted/ Jars, Acoma, Laguna or Zuni, matte or polished surface, over 8”, largest dimension, also received a Special Award.
Delores Curran for Pottery/ Non-Traditional Pottery/ Jars, over 2” largest.
Thomas Natseway for Pottery/ Miniature Pottery Less than 2"/ Non-traditional forms.
Susie Crank for Pottery/ Navajo Traditional Pottery/ Jars, over 2” but less than 8” largest dimension.
Ralph Claw for Pottery/ Navajo Pottery, Non-Traditional/ Jars, over 2” but less than 8” largest dimension.

Some 650 ribbons were awarded to these and other 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners, making it impractical to post all the winners in this message. Nevertheless, each ribbon winner is saluted for their accomplishment.

This report has been posted, based on information provided by the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial organization, by William Ernest Waites, writer, tribal art collector and co-owner with his wife, Susanne Waites, of the online galleries of aboriginals: Art of the First Person, including ZuniLink, Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLink and TribalWorks