Shonto Begay

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Shonto Begay is a Native American artist, illustrator, writer, and teacher. He began his artistic career in 1983 and his art features landscapes and other cultural elements of Navajo life.

Contents

Biography and education

Begay was born into the Diné tribe on February 7, 1954, near Shonto, Arizona. [1] His mother was a Navajo weaver from the Bitter Water clan and his father was a medicine man from the Salt clan. [2] Begay was named via a traditional Navajo naming ceremony that is held once a baby has their first laugh; this name is only used by family members and Begay was given an American name by the government, "Wilson". [3] Begay later changed this first name to his great-great grandmother's name, Shonto. [3]

Begay had fifteen siblings and his family lived in three hogans, which had no water or power. [3] He spent his childhood herding sheep, reading books, and drawing. Begay did not initially see art as a viable career until he reached high school, as he initially believed that everyone knew how to draw. [4] He attended a residential boarding school near Flagstaff, where he was expected to assimilate into western society. He, along with other children, were prohibited from expressing any aspects of their culture and would receive corporal punishment if they did otherwise. [2] During this time, Begay coped with boarding school life by painting and drawing, which he often had to do in secret. This has prompted him to describe the act of painting as "removing myself from harsh reality and living in that world of beauty I have the power to create with my hand". [2] During the summer Begay was allowed to return home to his parents, where he made sure to spend the time immersed in his culture. [3]

Begay eventually left his reservation to attend the Institute of American Indian Arts, where he graduated with an associate degree in fine arts in 1976. [5] [3] [1] He then attended the California College of Arts and Crafts, where he received his bachelor's degree in Fine Arts. [1] [3] [5] While in California he met and married his former wife Cruz, with whom he had four children.[ citation needed ]

Begay has worked as a National Parks ranger in Arizona and Wyoming and in 1983, began to paint professionally. [6] He later moved back to his Navajo reservation in Arizona and currently lives in Kayenta, where he works on his art in a hogan located about 30 miles away from his house. He also teaches workshops to youth and believes that "art saves lives". [2] [6] [3]

Artworks

Art style and subject matter

Begay's paintings depicts many aspects of Native American life; he has stated that he paints the landscapes of his reservation, the spiritual and cultural lore of the Diné, and the harsh realities of life on the reservation. [7] His art has been likened to the art movement of social realism, as critics have stated that his art fights against the romanticism of native life. [2] His style has also been compared to that of Vincent van Gogh and neo-impressionists. Begay has commented about those comparisons, as he believes his style to be individualistic and that he paints "with an impressionistic sensibility" that he states comes from "the whole idea of reciting the chants, the ancient prayers. Every syllable of every word is recited to maintain the beauty. So, each stroke, each line, each color, dot, and dash — to me, those are syllables to the holy words I grew up with. I grew up in the rhythm of late-night chants, songs, and of course, the creation of holy sand paintings. I think a lot of the vision is coming from that." [2] [7] [8]

Begay's artwork features a recurring characteristic where light seeps through and illuminates some elements of the painting, which Michael Abatemarco of the Santa Fe New Mexican states harmoniously balances beauty (light) with the subject matter of the painting. [2]

Select artwork

Helpless [8]

This painting was done in a birds-eye view, and it features a group of people scattered on the floor who appear to be unconscious; the only one awake is a kitten, and it is looking up, meaning it is staring at the viewer. A person's shadow can be seen holding the door open and observing the situation. Shonto discusses this painting during an interview; he mentions that the cat looking straight at the viewer reminds them that there is still hope in this chaotic world. He also discusses the shadow and how it represents the viewers dilemma, the dilemma being, "Do I step into this confusion and embrace it, or do I stay out of the light?"

Losing My Spirit For Salvation [9] [10]

This painting features a man who is emerging from the side of a mesa. The mesa is detailed with swirls and lines, and the background is detailed with etches of angels. The man who is emerging from the side of the mesa represents Shonto, and he expresses that this painting represents his relationship between the Navajo spiritual realm and Christianity. The man is coming out from the side of the mesa because the stories of Christianity are "alluring" to him.

Nightwalker [9] [11]

This painting features a starry night sky, and the floor is covered with snow. There is a figure walking through the snow, and the figure is see-through. Shonto says that this painting is "tickling the spirit world, people who have passed and still walking on the land, where they belonged".

Exhibitions/shows

Solo exhibitions

Group exhibitions

Collections

Shonto Begay's work can be seen in the following collections:

Honors and awards

Shonto Begay has received the following honors and awards:

Publications and illustrations

Illustrations

Wrote and illustrated

Contributed

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hedblad, Alan (2003). Something about the author. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Publishing. pp. 23–24. ISBN   9780787652098.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Abatemarco, Michael (August 16, 2013). "Ecstatic realities: Artist Shonto Begay". Santa Fe New Mexican.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McElmeel, Sharron L. (November 1996). "Author and illustrator profile". Library Talk. 9 (5): 14 – via EBSCOHost.
  4. ↑ Clover, Faith (1997). "Shonto Begay talks about his art". SchoolArts. 97 (2): 22–23, 42.
  5. 1 2 3 Dittemore, Diane (2010). "Shonto Begay". American Indian Art Magazine. Scottsdale, Arizona. 36 (1): 43. ISSN   0192-9968.
  6. 1 2 3 "Shonto Begay". Modern West Fine Art. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Shonto Begay, Native American painter | Canyon Road Arts" . Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  8. 1 2 Art Dealer Diaries Season 2018 E 2, Shonto Begay hosted by Mark Sublette , retrieved February 22, 2020
  9. 1 2 Artist Shonto Begay discusses his latest show "Rhythm of the Blue Highway" , retrieved March 12, 2020
  10. ↑ "Shonto Begay – Losing My Spirit for Salvation". Medicinemangallery.com. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Shonto Begay – Nightwalker". Medicinemangallery.com. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Dancing light". PressReader . October 1, 2018. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  13. ↑ Artist Shonto Begay discusses his latest show "Rhythm of the Blue Highway" , retrieved February 23, 2020
  14. ↑ "Free First Sunday: Artist Talk with Shonto Begay". wheelwright.org. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Aje' Ji' | The Heart Way | Modern West | Artsy". www.artsy.net. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Explore Contemporary Navajo Culture with Shonto Begay's Map of My Heart". Museum of Northern Arizona. May 30, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  17. 1 2 3 "Shonto Begay Biography | Medicine Man Gallery". Medicinemangallery.com. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  18. 1 2 3 "Shonto Begay wins at Santa Fe Indian Market". Navajo-Hopi Observer News. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Modern West Holiday's | Group Show | Modern West | Artsy". www.artsy.net. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  20. ↑ "MutualArt.com – The Western Sublime: Majestic Landscapes of the American West". www.mutualart.com. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  21. ↑ "They Ain't Marlboro Men: Another "New West" at the Briscoe Museum". Glasstire. August 5, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  22. ↑ "MutualArt.com – Six Navajo Masters: Abeyta, Begay, Johns, Whitehorse, Whitethorne & Yazzie". www.mutualart.com. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Modern West Fine Art | Small Works | Modern West | Artsy". www.artsy.net. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Native Voices | Modern West | Artsy". www.artsy.net. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  25. ↑ "NATIVE AMERICAN PORTRAITURE". Rainmaker Gallery. November 20, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Travel the 7C's of Arizona at Phoenix Sky Harbor Have an Art Adventure and Travel the 7C's of Arizona at Phoenix Sky Harbor". www.skyharbor.com. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  27. ↑ "UMFA: Utah Museum of Fine Arts". August 7, 2013. Archived from the original on August 7, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  28. ↑ "MESSENGERS 2012". Rainmaker Gallery. July 1, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  29. ↑ "The Avery Collection of American Indian Paintings | Arizona State Museum". statemuseum.arizona.edu. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Begay, Shonto W. (Navajo)". econtent.unm.edu. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  31. ↑ "West of The Moon Gallery – Artists Represented". westofthemoongallery.com. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  32. ↑ Smallwood, Sarah (January 18, 2020). "2020 Legacy Recipient : Shonto Begay". Flagstaff Arts Council. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  33. ↑ "And the winners are…..Arizona Daily Sun's 2015 Best of Flagstaff!". Arizona Daily Sun. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  34. ↑ Tannous, John (March 4, 2010). "Viola Award Archives – 2010". Flagstaff Arts Council. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  35. ↑ "Shonto Begay". Poetry Foundation. February 23, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  36. ↑ "Classroom connections: Books written & illustrated by Shonto Begay". Library Talk. 9 (5): 16. November 1996 – via EBSCOHost.
  37. ↑ Shonto, Begay (1995). Navajo: Voices and Visions Across the Mesa. New York: Scholastic Inc. p. 6. ISBN   0-590-46153-2.
  38. ↑ Turner, Nancy (September 9, 2002). "Collective Willeto (Book)". Library Journal. 127 (15): 57 – via EBSCOHost.
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