The Tangram Butterfly Series Ramona Sakiestewa is based in the merger of two cultures: Native American and Chinese. Courtesy/DNCU
DNCU News:
SANTA FE—Del Norte Credit Union (DNCU), northern New Mexico’s hometown financial cooperative, ihas announced an exhibition of prints by artist Ramona Sakiestewa.
The exhibition, which includes lithographs from Sakiestewa’s Tangram Butterfly and Original Super Heroes series, will be on display at DNCU’s Cordova Branch, 403 West Cordova Road in Santa Fe, through June 2016.
“We are honored to host the work of esteemed Native American artist Ramona Sakiestewa,” says DNCU CEO/President Chuck Valenti. “Sakiestewa’s accomplishments as an artist are truly extraordinary, and her work graces our branch.”
Sakiestewa is a contemporary Native American artist who lives and works in Santa Fe. Born in Albuquerque to a Hopi father and German-English-Irish mother, Sakiestewa is renowned for her tapestries, works-on-paper, and for her public art/architectural installations.
“The Tangram Butterfly Series is based in the merger of two cultures: Native American and Chinese,” Sakiestewa says.
The tangram puzzle is thought to have originated during the Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD) and is comprised of seven shapes that can be arranged to depict abstract compositions as well as animals, people, boats, houses and other objects. The lithographs in the Tangram Butterfly series are constructed from seven pottery patterns instead of simple tangram shapes.
Sakiestewa notes that the butterflies are combined from the patterns to create a puzzle within a puzzle. They are printed with gold and silver inks.
“The Original Super Heroes Series are katsinam that are now not often seen in current settings,”
Sakiestewa says. “Katsinas are the cultural messengers for Hopi Indian culture.” Sakiestewa began her exploration of printmaking in 2009. Influenced by her textile work, her prints are often
constructions, made on a variety of fabrics and papers, and sometimes use pieces of fabric for the print plates.
Del Norte Credit Union’s North Star Artists program arranges exhibitions in two of the credit union’s branches showcasing local artists. Currently on view at DNCU DeVargas are contemporary abstract oil paintings by John St. Peter. Branch hours for the exhibition are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.
About Del Norte Credit Union
Chartered in 1954, Del Norte Credit Union is dedicated to improving lives by being the ideal partner for a better future. Today DNCU has six branches in northern New Mexico and serves more than 45,000 members throughout the state.