Nizhoni Ranch News

LIVE Dazzled Eye Walk & Talk

“Gaudy”     “Barbaric”     “An aesthetic debauch”

These were the opinions of many Western critics who, during the Victorian age, found Navajo Eyedazzler weavings jarring and ill-fitted to their décor. Not until the Op Art movement during the 1960's did collectors and artists alike go wild for these weavings that produced similar tricks on the eye as Opt Art did but were created far earlier. 

Featuring selections from world-renowned collectors Steve and Gail Getzwiller, The Dazzled Eye contrasts these works of woven art with American Op Art by exploring the popularity and history of Navajo Eyedazzlers and optical weavings. This exhibition demonstrates how these works by Navajo weavers epitomize Navajo aesthetics and a mindfulness of movement.

Learn about the dynamic history of the Dazzled Eye woven works of art from Steve Getzwiller, as he takes the time to personally introduce you to the exquisite textiles on display.  A walk through a special place and time, with a man who seems to have been there and back. 

If you would like a preview of the images from the exhibit - click here.  You know you won't want to miss this great event and learn all about these spectacular textiles!  Mark your calendar today:  Saturday February 25th 1pm MST. 

For more details:  http://www.tucsondart.org/the-dazzled-eye.html

This is a SPECIAL FREE event in the museum!
Museum information is below for your convenience. 

TUCSON DESERT ART MUSEUM

If you missed this great event, you can relive it in all it's glory by watching the video on our Facebook page

 

San Francisco here we come!

The annual San Francisco Tribal & Textile Art show is the leading Tribal art fair showcasing the arts of tribal cultures and indigenous peoples of the Americas, Asia, Oceania, Polynesia, the Middle East and Africa. 

The show presents over 80 national and international galleries, displaying museum-quality objects and artifacts in visually striking settings perfect for browsing by tribal art collectors, first-time guests and enthusiasts. This show presents the rare opportunity to find that unique object that you can bring home and enjoy.

Nizhoni Ranch Gallery is pleased to be one of the only galleries to represent weavings by the gifted Navajo loom artists.  If you're in the SF area, please be sure to stop by our exhibit and say Hi!  We will have some exceptional weavings for you, like this amazing 3rd Phase Chief Blanket done in a Teec Nos Pos/ Red Mesa style.  

You can purchase tickets for the event by clicking here.  The show will run Feb 10-12: Friday - Sunday 11am - 7pm (5pm on Sun)

Fort Mason Center
Festival Pavilion 
2 Marina Blvd 
San Francisco

Dazzled Eye Exhibit Draws Crowd

A sneak peak at the Dazzled Eye Exhibit at the Tucson Desert Art Museum - A big hit!! Catalogs are $10. Call 520-455-5020 or email Steve@navajorug.com to order your copy today.

Opening Night! Everyone enjoyed the Exhibit !!

Curator Alyssa Travis and the Collector Steve Getzwiller

Center Room with Blankets Galore !

Steve and Robin joking around - and a little more serious below...

Jeff & Anne Gartner with Gail & Steve Getzwiller

Steve & Gail Getzwiller with Brandy & Larry Dyer

Everyone's Favorite Wall !

 

Salt River Canyon

The Salt River Canyon Gail snapped this shot of the Salt River Canyon as she and Steve drove home from the Navajo Nation. An unusual sight, as they have not seen clouds inside the canyon before. The light was changing fast!

A few more snapshots from the Navajo Reservation Trip below. The last trip for 2016! As you can see in the last photo - It was Windy!!

Cecelia Nez posing for a portrait. One of the best living Teec Nos Pos Weavers!! And in general a beautiful person we are privileged to know.

Malinda Nez posing for a portrait. Sheep Herder and Expert Teec Nos Pos Weaver!! We were joking around and snapped this shot of her in front of her loom.

Steve and Kathy Marianito wrestle with a 3rd Phase Chief Blanket, the wind is quite blustery!

Pictorials at the Gallery

At Nizhoni Ranch Gallery. We currently have the Painting with Wool show hanging. It has opened to rave reviews. Visitors are amazed at the pictorials we are currently highlighting. Imagine painting a scene about Navajo life on the reservation, but using fiber instead of oils or watercolors to create the picture. That’s what pictorials in Navajo weaving are, and while times and markets are always changing these weavings continue to see a steady growth in popularity. That’s just one of the many reasons Nizhoni Ranch Gallery in Sonoita, Arizona is featuring a new show this fall focusing on this particular style.

Back to Nizhoni Ranch News Blog

Currently At The Gallery

Saturday's Exhibit Opening Painting With Wool was a great success! Thank You All for Coming!!! We have many items in the show that are for sale but have not been posted on the website yet but are coming soon. Just give us a call 520-455-5020 or email steve@navajorug.com for a tour. Featured below is a Yei be Chei Pictorial woven by Marie Shirley, circa 1985, with beautiful vegetal dyes. Also on the hearth is 3 large Zia Pueblo Pots by Ruby Panana all available for sale!

Antique Tree of Life opposite Cara Gorman's 4 in 1 pictorial

Back to Nizhoni Ranch News Blog

Talk at Wickenburg Museum Today November 8th

Steve will be giving a talk today, 12 -5pm, Tuesday November 8th 2016, at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg Arizona. Part of the "RIDE THROUGH HISTORY" SADDLES THAT SHAPED THE WEST EXHIBIT

Steve & Gail loaned Navajo Saddle Blankets to the exhibit to help show off the wonderful Saddles on display all hand crafted by Carson Thomas of Wickenburg Arizona.

 

Above is a sneak preview of just a few of the many saddles and saddle blankets in the exhibit. The saddles are all replicas of the original saddles that Shaped American History - made to scale! Incredible!! And the blankets are all original historic Navajo Saddle Blankets.

Steve talking with some Museum Patrons at the Exhibit Opening. The Saddles, Navajo Saddle Blankets, and Fine Art displayed together give you a real feel for how the west was shaped!

Navajo Pictorials Showing Continues

“Painting with Wool – Navajo Pictorial Weavings” Exhibition and Sale.

CELEBRATING THE GIFT OF THE NAVAJO ARTIST LOOM

Elsie Bia demonstrates her Navajo Weaving expertise while onlookers take it in. Elsie's Granddaughter Natalie helps at the opening.

Steve begins his talk on the open porch before entering the Gallery.

What's not to Love!!! Indeed! Thank you Natalie for coming to the opening!

Opening Nov. 5th Painting with Wool Exhibit reserve your spot

"Painting with Wool - Navajo Pictorial Weavings" Exhibition and Sale.

Open House November 5th! Please reserve your space! A personal viewing is the only way to appreciate the detail, skill, and spirit that go into executing these exquisite weavings. This will be a show to remember.

Just one of the many wild images awaiting for your visit.

It would not be a hard to imagine these Yei figures come alive and walk right out of the weaving! Such Detail!! stars, constellations, the moon, rainbow bars, fox skin, & more...

+++++++++++++

A sneak peak at one corner of the gallery we just rehung.

+++++++++++++

And some details.

Bows and Arrows and Emergence Figures woven from beautifully hand carded & hand dyed native wool, have a story to tell.

Ravens of the 32nd Level - Do you know their story?

The Show will run from November 4th 2016 to January 4th 2017 We hope to see you there.

Fun at Nizhoni Ranch

We had a fun day today with the Docents from the Tuscon Museum of Art. Steve gave a talk about where and how Navajo Weaving got it's start - and then the weavings and questions flew! 40 very attentive seekers of art were thoroughly entertained by Steve with the assistance of Robin and sometimes Gail would add a little tidbit to the information. I think we can say fun was had by all. The beauty of the gallery and the beautiful day where the vistas of the Sonoita Valley with it's rolling hills infused the day with beauty - all the way around. Everyone had to agree that Nizhoni was a very appropriate name for the gallery. Many were very surprised and pleased they made the journey. One of the docents said, "I have never been to Sonoita before and would have never guessed something like this would be here! Simply amazing!"

Back to Nizhoni Ranch News Blog

PAINTING WITH WOOL - Upcoming Exhibition & Sale

PAINTING WITH WOOL - Exhibition & Sale of Navajo Pictorial Weavings

Article Featured in "NATIVE AMERICAN ART" Issue 5 - October-November 2016

Native American Art Magazine Article By clicking the link above or the cover below, you can see the article in a very clear PDF... “Courtesy of Native American Art magazine.”

Trip to the Navajo Reservation

We stopped at Kathy Marianito's to pick up some of the weavings. This one is Julia Upshaw's Mokie Serape. Julia's weaving is sure a pretty one, you should check it out Churro 1498

Steve taking the opportunity to relax before checking in the weavings! Gallup Inter-Triabal Ceremonial 2016

Steve stopped by to visit with Cara Gorman. No weavings to pose with this trip as we had entered all of them at Gallup Inter- Tribal Ceremonial.

A fitting end to our trip. We spotted some Future Weavings as we left Canyon de Chelly.