The Downtown Holiday Art Market was a smashing success. The event which was hosted by Gallup Arts and Art123 Gallery, brought together artists and Christmas shoppers in downtown Gallup Dec. 12.
Rose Eason, executive director of Gallup Arts, said the event was the combination of three events: the Downtown Holiday Art Market at the El Morro Event Center, the Pop-Up Holiday Art Market at Art123 Gallery, and the 6th Annual Member Artist Group Show, also at Art123 Gallery.
“Today, [Dec. 12] we had 68 artists that showed for the holiday art market and over a hundred customers that visited downtown Gallup to shop,” she said.
The art market was a chance for local artists to showcase their work since being locked down during the pandemic, she said, noting that the event came together quickly.
“If you joined us today, thank you.” she said. “Invest in yourself by investing in art and something beautiful that you can have in your family.”
One artist setup at the holiday art market created art in several mediums. Joshua Whitman said he was born and raised in Gallup. He was selling handmade candles and soap, carved wooden coasters, small paintings, and photography.
“I dab in a lot of things. My interest [in art] started when I was young. My dad would tell me stories about when [he] traveled across Europe while serving in the military,” he said.
Whitman’s father visited different museums and saw paintings that stirred his emotions.
Eventually, Whitman made the commitment to become an artist, first through elective art courses in high school, then through his pursuit of an art degree at UNM.
“I got my bachelor’s degree in studio art,” he said.
Whitman explained how he used a double boiler method for making candles.
“Essentially, it’s a pot of water and you cover it with a glass bowl. When the water heats up, the steam heats up the bowl and you put the candle wax in there,” he said.
The next step is adding ingredients. Whitman added candle dye and essential oils. He said addition of the soap followed the same process — with the only difference being that it’s made with goat’s milk, beeswax is one word and essential oils.
“I incorporated dried flowers for added scent for the soap,” he said.
Another artist sold hand-crafted kachina dolls at the holiday art market. Each kachina had a different ceremonial purpose and identity.
Nick Brokeshoulder, originally from Flagstaff, Ariz. is Hopi and Absentee Shawnee. He said his grandfather, Guy Maktima, taught him the sacred techniques for carving kachina dolls. His grandfather was from Old Oraibi, Ariz. and was a member of the Snake Clan.
“He was a World War I veteran,” he said.
Like his grandfather, Brokeshoulder is also a veteran and served in the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Ft. Richardson, Ala. During his tours of duty, Brokeshoulder shared his kachina doll art with people across the globe.
The traditional-style kachina dolls he makes are created from cottonwood root and natural paint. The style dates back to 1900, he said, adding that the base for the paint is clay. Rocks are crushed and added to create the different paint colors.
“We decorate it with horse hair, feathers, fur, shell,” he said.
“Each one of these here,” he said, pointing to the kachinas on display, “we give them to our children so they can identify the names, colors, and attributes of the particular kachina as it is incorporated into the Hopi ceremonials.”
The ceremonial season is from the beginning of February to the end of July.
Brokeshoulder said a lot of the kachina dolls discovered by anthropologists date back to 1375.
“It’s much older than that, it just depends on where they’re from,” he said. The cliff dwellings and such … Those are our ancestors.
“I like making dolls. I’ve been doing it since I was eight years old,” Brokeshoulder said. “I’ve done many shows all over the world. I like to show at Red Earth in Oklahoma City and Cherokee Indian Market in Tulsa.”
Only male Hopis can carve kachina dolls, but you have to first be initiated into a kachina society.
By Rick Abasta
Sun Correspondent