Blue Rain Gallery
Phone: 505-954-9902
Address: 544 South Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
Exclusive New Art Collections, Special Artist Events, and Unforgettable Evening Receptions
Blue Rain Gallery is proud to announce a full schedule of memorable events for its 2024 Annual Celebration of Native American Art held in its Santa Fe Railyard Location. Daily events run from August 14-18, 2024, with featured artwork remaining on display through August 31.
The celebration kicks off with a lecture by legendary glass artist Preston Singletary on Wednesday, August 14th at 11 am. This event will provide insights into Singletary's artistic journey, his contributions to Native American art, and his new work to be unveiled on Friday, the 16th, in a solo exhibition.
A Group Exhibition featuring the work of over a dozen Native artists opens at the gallery on Thursday, August 15th, with an opening reception from 5-7 pm where visitors have the chance to meet the artists in person. The Group Exhibition features the artwork of Jody Naranjo, Russell Sanchez, Lisa Holt & Harlan Reano, Dan Friday, Raven Skyriver, Helen K. Tindel, Ryan Singer, Chris Pappan, Starr Hardridge, Hyrum Joe, Leah Garcia, Gabriel Mozart Abeyta (alias Ugly Pie Art), and Jesse Littlebird.
Jody Naranjo, an illustrious Santa Clara Pueblo potter, is widely celebrated for embracing both classic and atypical vessel forms that feature meticulously rendered sgraffito carvings of ‘pueblo girls,’ village scenes, and stylized animals.
Russell Sanchez, a master of traditional San Ildefonso Pueblo pottery techniques, creates in a signature style that explores unique shapes, color palettes, and designs and incorporates materials such as turquoise, Heishi Shell beads, and coral cabochons in the clay.
Lisa Holt and Harlan Reano, an acclaimed husband and wife team, create hand-coiled, low-fired pots and figurines. Using Cochiti clay, traditional techniques, and contemporary inspiration, Holt creates the ceramic forms and Reano paints the surfaces with distinctive tattoo-like designs in cream and black or vibrant colors.
Dan Friday, a member of the Lummi Nation with work shown in collections around the world, deftly crafts luminous glass sculptures with elegant themes and forms inspired by his Coast Salish heritage, including stylized bears, birds, feathers, and totems.
Raven Skyriver, a glass-blower trained in the traditional Venetian technique, creates realistic representations of diverse marine life inspired by his island upbringing. His glass artwork perfectly reflects the cherished yet fragile nature of the ecosystem he portrays.
Helen K. Tindel is well-known for painting vibrant floral motifs in abstract and evocative compositions that venerate her ancestral New Mexico homeland. Her oil on panel with resin works are steeped with emotion, intention, and dynamic energy.
Ryan Singer, an award-winning Diné (Navajo) painter, blends his rich heritage with pop culture elements, yielding vibrant portraits of iconic subjects that transcend genres and captivate viewers with their unique storytelling. His work interweaves Native culture and modern universal narratives, creating a profound connection between past and present.
Chris Pappan, a citizen of the Kaw Nation (Kanza), is internationally recognized for his innovative approach to traditional ledger art with his mixed media compositions on historic ledger paper. A pioneering figure in the Indigenous Futurism fine art movement, Pappan’s ‘abstract realism’ advances crucial discourse on contemporary Native art.
Starr Hardridge, a highly lauded Muscogee (Creek) painter schooled in traditional disciplines of classical art, paints striking compositions that combine pointillism, abstract symbolism, and a southeastern woodland beadwork aesthetic, revolutionizing modern techniques and traditional designs.
Hyrum Joe is esteemed for his detailed oil portraits of Navajo subjects that illuminate Diné traditions, daily rituals, and enduring heritage. His trademark blend of realism and impressionism brings viewers new insights into the vibrant culture and resilient identity of his people.
Three new artists will be showing work at the Group Exhibition this year: Leah Garcia, Jesse Littlebird, and Mozart Gabriel Abeyta. Leah Garcia, endlessly inspired by a lifetime in the fine art world, crafts pottery deeply rooted in her familial Santa Clara traditions. Mozart Gabriel Abeyta (Diné/Taos Pueblo), who goes by the art alias Ugly Pie Art, is a gifted musician and painter whose work is infused with a profound sense of place and reverence for the land. Jesse Littlebird (Laguna/Kewa Pueblo), is a multi-disciplinary artist, filmmaker, and storyteller who paints in large-scale abstract expressionist style incorporating cultural symbols and motifs.
This diverse and impressive lineup of artists promises a dynamic variety of artworks across mediums, blending contemporary and timeless techniques for an unforgettable exhibition.
Preston Singletary’s highly-anticipated solo exhibition opens Friday, August 16th, with an artist reception from 5-7 pm, and shows through August 31st. His celebrated glass sculptures, inspired by the imagery and iconography of Tlingit culture, resonate with powerful spiritual and cultural significance. Singletary's vibrantly-hued sculptures stand as testaments to his mastery of glassblowing and sand-carving techniques, embodying his visionary approach to contemporary Native expression.
Singletary and fellow glass artists Dan Friday and Raven Skyriver will hold glass-blowing demonstrations on Friday, August 16th, and Saturday, August 17th from 11 am-3 pm. Guests will have the opportunity to watch these artists create examples of their work from start to finish in a shaded area with plenty of seating.
Hyrum Joe will conduct live painting demonstrations on Thursday, August 15th, and Friday, August 16th from 11 am-4 pm, focusing on detailed portraits of cultural subjects. Jesse Littlebird will also debut his first live painting demonstration focusing on his use of mixed media, August 16 from 11am-4pm.
Blue Rain Gallery warmly invites everyone to attend this exciting schedule of events coinciding with SWAIA’s 102nd Santa Fe Indian Market. Mark your calendars and visit the gallery to meet the artists, experience their captivating artwork, and immerse yourself in a vibrant celebration of Native American culture and creativity!
