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By Amy Abrams
 
Everyone who lives in or visits the dynamic city of Scottsdale, Arizona, owes a debt of gratitude to the legendary Indian artists who played key roles in its growth and reputation as a vibrant center of arts and culture. With a long history of showcasing and selling Native American art and artifacts, Scottsdale is considered a leader in this highly competitive market. And the handful of Indian tribes within an easy drive of Scottsdale both reflects and helps create the living Indian legacy of the region. Now join us for a bit of Scottsdale’s Indian arts history and a tour of select Native-oriented museums, art galleries and special events.

Native Art Pioneers
One of Scottsdale’s most prominent cultural pioneers, of any ethnicity, was Lloyd Kiva New (1916–2002). The Cherokee and Scots-Irish apparel and cloth designer founded Scottsdale’s Craftsman Court in 1946. The center helped define Scottsdale as an arts colony and tourist destination. New also helped define a new direction for the Heard Museum in Phoenix and the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe.

Revered as one of the most innovative Native American artists of the 20th century, Charles Loloma (Hopi, 1921–1991) opened the Loloma Ceramics Shop in Scottsdale’s Kiva Craft Center and soon began making Hopi-inspired jewelry, shaping gems and wood into miniature works of art. His designs have inspired generations of Native American artists.
World-renowned artist Fritz Scholder (Luiseño) lived in Scottsdale for two decades prior to his death in 2005. The figurative expressionist painter, printer and sculptor shattered the stereotypical views of both the American Indian as an art subject and the Indian artist himself, with his flamboyant and powerful personal and artistic style.

Museums
The newly relocated Heard Museum North Scottsdale is a treasure for the Scottsdale community and visitors from all over the world. With an expanded exhibition space, a shop carrying outstanding American Indian artwork, a chic café and a sculpture garden, plan to spend a leisurely afternoon at this satellite gallery of the Heard Museum in Phoenix, which has one of the largest and best collections of Native American art in the nation. The Heard Museum North was launched in 1996 at el Pedregal at The Boulders.

The new museum’s open, light-filled spaces, with blond bamboo-plank floors and walls clad in the darkened wood salvaged from old wineries, opened to visitors in June 2007 with the long-term exhibit Choices and Change: American Indian Artists in the Southwest. Historic art and artifacts featured side by side with contemporary art document artistic influences today and throughout history, powerfully illustrating the culture and talent of Native peoples. “Change is an underlying premise of American Indian art, the bridge between a past rich in tradition and a dynamic present and future,” says Tricia Loscher, the museum’s curator and program director. The new space also currently features a changing exhibition showcasing Inuit art. On April 12 and 13, the museum presents the Navajo Folk Art Festival, where Navajo artists show and sell traditional and innovative artwork.

The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA), designed by world-renowned Arizona architect Will Bruder, and the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, housing theaters, galleries and a popular gift shop, are adjacent venues at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall, where visitors stroll among outdoor sculpture, gardens and fountains. Continuing a commitment to Native American art and performance, the Center features Arizonan R. Carlos Nakai (Navajo/Ute), the world’s premier Native American flautist, on May 10. Within the last few years, exhibitions have included art and fashion by Virgil Ortiz (Cochiti Pueblo) as well as paintings and drawings by Brad Kahlhamer.

Cultural Programming
Native Trails, a series of free festivals celebrating Native American culture presented each year by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and the Scottsdale Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, and produced by Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, began in 2003 as a cultural tourism initiative. Each day, the program highlights a different Southwestern tribe. Tribes represented this year include the Salt River Pima-Maricopa, Tohono O’odham, Hopi, Yavapai, Apache and Diné (Navajo). Ambassadors from these nations showcase their arts, crafts and culinary skills, while performers entertain and educate by sharing music and dance. “These celebratory festivals are an open invitation to residents and visitors to experience Native songs and dances handed down through generations,” notes Native Trails artistic director and world-champion hoop dancer Derrick Suwaima Davis (Hopi/Choctaw).

On February 26 and 28, audiences will enjoy new songs by renowned musician Xavier Quijas Yxayotl (Huichol), who performs ancient music of the Native peoples of Mexico. A new horse dance, choreographed and performed by Davis, as well as basket, rainbow and eagle dances, will delight attendees. An audience-participation round dance caps off each performance. For history buffs, the Scottsdale Historical Society will lead historical walking tours of downtown Scottsdale on select dates.

Galleries
In addition to their regular hours, most galleries are open for the Scottsdale ArtWalk, every Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m.

In addition to featuring prehistoric Native American ceramics, rugs and baskets, Ancient Arts Gallery showcases pre-Columbian, Egyptian, Middle Eastern, Roman and Greek artifacts. Co-owner Roy Oswalt, who began the business in 1980, describes the 2,200-square-foot space as “a museum in which everything is for sale.” 7056 E. Main St., Scottsdale, AZ, 85251; 480/874-1007 or fortknoxartifacts.com

Opened in 1996 by Bill Faust, nephew of the late legendary art dealer Lovena Ohl, Faust Gallery features works by Native American masters and emerging artists including jewelry, pottery, textiles, katsinas, beadwork, paintings and sculptures. Working with Ohl since 1977, Faust says, “I take the responsibility of the artistic legacy bequeathed to me very seriously.” Browsers and buyers will enjoy a contemporary, clean-lined space dramatically showcasing the quality artworks. 7103 E. Main St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251; 480/946-6345 or faustgallery.com

Sharon Figarelli of Figarelli Fine Art is the exclusive Arizona representative for the sculptures of Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache). Situated on a beautiful historic estate with fountains and gardens, the gallery, which opened in 2001, also features the work of 10 prominent contemporary artists. “I was fortunate to find this exquisite location to show life-size and monumental sculptures in the courtyard,” says Figarelli. 7610 E. McDonald Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85250; 480/609-7077 or figarellifineart.com

With know-how from his family’s Route 66 trading post, Gilbert Ortega (a fourth-generation Arizonan who died in 2003) of Gilbert Ortega Galleries opened a successful chain of stores selling Native American art and artifacts. Gilbert Ortega, Jr. and his three siblings now own the businesses, which were launched in the early 1970s. See a wide selection at the spacious gallery, where jewelry is the main attraction, but there are also dolls, baskets, pottery, rugs, paintings, sculptures and much more. Also see museum displays within another retail shop at Gilbert Ortega Museum Gallery: 7252 E. First Ave., Scottsdale, AZ 85251, 480/990-1808; Museum Gallery, 3925 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

One of the most respected dealers in the field, John Hill of John C. Hill Antique Indian Art specializes in Hopi and Zuni katsina dolls, historic pottery, Navajo and Pueblo weavings, jewelry, basketry, paintings, folk art and beadwork. Housed in a building designed by the renowned Phoenix architect Ralph Haver, the gallery, which began in 1972, has an international following. Hill says that his fascination with Indian art began ”when I took my first job on the Navajo reservation.”
6962 E. First Ave., Scottsdale, AZ 85251; 480/946-2910 or johnhillgallery.com

Visit King Galleries of Scottsdale, opened by Charles King in 1996. In a contemporary space with a rustic touch—a white-wood beam ceiling—you’ll see the work of many of today’s leading Pueblo potters, including fine line Acoma black-and-white designs, black-on-black pots from San Ildefonso and polychrome works from Santa Clara, as well as some select works in other media. Pottery includes historic and contemporary pieces. King says, “Over the years, we’ve taken time to know each of our gallery artists.” 7100 E. Main St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251; 480/481-0187 or kinggalleries.com

As second-generation retailers, Deborah and Alston Neal of Old Territorial Shop recently celebrated 38 years selling baskets, textiles, pottery, katsinas, jewelry and beadwork, with specialization in historic and antique items. The gallery is the oldest Indian shop on Main Street and as of last year, when The White Hogan closed, the oldest Indian gallery in Scottsdale. Deborah says, “We have devoted clientele,” who have built their loyalty on confidence in their dealers over decades of collecting. With items beautifully displayed in painted armoires and on blanketed wooden tables, the sunny space has a cozy character. 7077 E. Main St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251; 480/945-5432 or oldterritorialshop.com

A Native American-owned gallery with origins in the trading business dating to 1913, Rain Bird of Scottsdale represents almost 50 Navajo and Pueblo contemporary jewelers, as well as painters and potters. Traditional works are also showcased and sold in this warm and welcoming establishment, opened in 2002, in the heart of the gallery district. Director Paul Piazza, who runs the gallery with his wife, Valerie, for second and third generation members of the Oneida family, says, “We’re a family business and a friendly business. We make everyone feel comfortable, here.” 7136 E. Main St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251; 480/425-7585

At Joe Zeller’s River Trading Post and Kathi Ouellet’s Traditional Pueblo Arts (a shared gallery space recently relocated to East Main Street), enjoy historic and contemporary Native American art including Navajo weavings, pottery, Hopi katsina dolls and Plains beadwork. Ouellet left the corporate world to follow her dream, establishing the gallery in 2000. Of her success, she says, “Three years ago, we also opened in Santa Fe.” 7033 E. Main St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251. River Trading Post: 480/444-0001 or rivertradingpost.com. Traditional Pueblo Arts: 480/627-0006 or puebloarts.com

Owned and operated by the Begner family for 16 years, Turkey Mountain Traders in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale sells American Indian art and antique folk art, specializing in jewelry, textiles and beadwork. The Begners moved to Scottsdale from Vermont in 1997 to launch the gallery in a prime Native American market. “After retirement, my parents began collecting and fell in love with Native American art,” says Steve Begner. 7008 E. Main St., Scottsdale, AZ, 85251; 480/423-8777 or turkey-mountain.com

In 1973, husband and wife Gene and Ann Waddell opened Waddell Trading Company, following in the footsteps of Gene’s parents, who began an Indian arts and jewelry trading business in the 1940s. Their son Mike, the next generation of Waddells, now helps run the gallery. “I’ve grown up in this business,” he says. Featuring quality Indian jewelry in elegant rosewood cabinets, the gallery is known for showcasing the work of prominent Hopi and Navajo artists. 7144 E. Main St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251; 480/990-1004, waddelltradingco.com

More Galleries
Grey Wolf Gallery—Showcasing the work of local Native American artists for more than 20 years. 7239 E. First Ave., Scottsdale, AZ 85251; 480/423-0004

Larsen Gallery—Features artworks on the resale market, including prints and paintings by Fritz Scholder (Luiseño) as well as works by other prominent Native American artists such as T.C. Cannon (Kiowa/Caddo/Choctaw), Dan Namingha (Hopi/Tewa) and Emmi Whitehorse (Diné). 3705 N. Bishop Lane, Scottsdale, AZ 85251; 480/941-0900

Legacy Gallery/Legacy Contemporary—Presents the work of Native American artists Oreland Joe (Navajo), Kevin Red Star (Crow) and Alvin Marshall (Navajo), and represents fine Western and American art from past to present, in traditional and “New West” styles. 7178 E. Main St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251; 480/945-1113

As a freelance arts writer living in Tempe, Arizona, Amy Abrams regularly contributes stories about the Arizona arts scene to regional and national magazines including Southwest Art and Arizona Highways. She also covers the visual arts, in weekly stories, for Scottsdale and other local newspapers.

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