Videos About Modern Southwest Native Artists

Modern Native American artists of the Southwest are the focus of two documentary videos to be shown Thursday, July 10, 2008, 4 p.m., at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, 3001 Central Street, Evanston.

The video “Circles of Life” (2002, 32 minutes) is an interview with Isleta Pueblo artist Andy Abeita, a master stone carver who has made several appearances in recent years at the Mitchell Museum. The New Mexico artist has also been a high-profile advocate for laws against the importation and sale of imitation American Indian art. Another participant in the discussion is Michaela Marchi, also of Isleta Pueblo heritage, from the Field Museum’s Center for Cultural Understanding and Change. Directed by Donald Terao, the video was produced and recorded at Evanston’s community-access television studios.

“A Separate Vision” (1989, 40 minutes), produced by the Museum of Northern Arizona, delves into the ideas, experiences, and work of four nontraditional Native artists who were featured in an exhibit of the same name. Artists are Hopi kachina carver John Fredericks, Santa Clara ceramic sculptor Nora Naranjo-Morse, Navajo weaver Brenda Spencer, and Navajo painter Baje Whitethorne.

Mitchell Museum board members Allan and Joyce Niederman will conduct the screenings. They'll also show and discuss samples of artwork by the featured artists and by other artists working in similar styles, drawn from the museum's collection.

The event is part of the Mitchell Museum's "Film and Video Club," a monthly series of screenings of documentary and educational videos, followed by discussions. The series currently focuses on Native artists and their art.

Admission to the event is free with an entrance donation to the museum. Suggested donation is $5 for adults; $2.50 for seniors, students, and children. Maximum suggested admission per family is $10. For information, phone (847) 475-1030. On the Net: www.mitchellmuseum.org.