Berlin Gallery

The Best of the Berlin Gallery at the Heard Museum Shops

2012-02-11T12:46:00.000-08:00

The Best of the Berlin Gallery at the Heard Museum Shops

February 17, 2012 – March 12, 2012

Please join us for the Best of Berlin Gallery Artists at the Berlin Gallery to view and purchase works by the masters and next generation of contemporary American Indian artists. This spring we showcase visionary works from the finest in Contemporary American Indian art including Painters Darren Vigil Gray (Jicarilla Apache/Kiowa Apache); Fritz Scholder (Luiseño) and Steven Yazzie (Navajo/Laguna Pueblo); Sculptors Phillip Haozous (Chiricahua Apache), Doug Hyde (Nez Perce/Assiniboine/Chippewa), Roxanne Swentzell (Santa Clara Pueblo); Printmakers Jacob Meders (Mechoopda Maidu), Norman Akers (Osage Nation); Mixed Media artist Rick Bartow (Wiyot), and Photographer Tiffiney Yazzie (Navajo) among many others.

Meet the Artists

While attending the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market Best of Show evening on March 2, please join us and meet several artists represented by the Berlin Gallery. On Saturday March 3, please note that many Berlin Gallery artists will be in the gallery during Indian Market weekend to discuss their work, including mixed media artist Sarah Sense (Chitimacha/Choctaw) who will be signing copies of her recent catalogue Weaving the Americas, A Search for Native Art in the Western Hemisphere which accompanied her recent solo exhibition in Chile.

New York Times Article

2012-02-04T10:21:00.000-08:00

We are honored to represent Retha Walden Gambaro's work here at the Berlin Gallery at the Heard Museum. Click here to read a recent article about Gambaro's work at the Heard Museum highlighted in the New York Times.

Lullaby II

5''h x 3.5''w

Bronze

The Phoenix New Times!

2012-01-25T11:50:00.000-08:00

Sallyann Paschall
Digadoi III

39.75''h x 39.75''w

Oil on Panel

Many thanks to the Phoenix New Times, Claire Lawton and Jackalope Ranch!

We so appreciate that the Phoenix New Times named the
Berlin Gallery one of their 10 Favorite Galleries in Metro Phoenix!

come by the gallery and see why!

Facing the Sunland + Gallery Talk with America Meredith

2012-01-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

Here at the Berlin Gallery we are busy preparing for our new show; Facing the Sunland: Works by America Meredith + Sallyann Paschall + Kay Walkingstick, opening next Friday!

The show will feature three talented Cherokee artists. Although each woman has their own unique style, all express the experience of three successive generations. Their work blend and question shared identities, pop imagery, innovation and tradition.

The opening reception for Facing the Sunland is next Friday, January 20^th from 6-8pm. We are also excited to announce that featured artist; America Meredith will be in the gallery next Saturday the 21^st to discuss her work at 1:30pm. This is an exciting opportunity you won’t want to miss!

In from Roxanne!

2012-01-07T14:20:00.001-08:00

In Loving Memory, Bronze, Ed. 6 of 11

Just arrived! Roxanne Swentzell bronze called "In Loving Memory".
It's a beautiful piece - come to the Berlin Gallery at the Heard Museum and see it!
It will soon grace someone's home!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-11T13:26:00.000-08:00

It’s a count down before the Holidays! Avoid the hustle and bustle of the mall; consider purchasing your gifts this holiday season in the peace and tranquility of the Berlin Gallery at the Heard Museum. Here are twelve beautiful and original reasons……

Stenciled pieces on paper by Eliza Noranjo Morse

Beautiful clay Spirit Birds by Rosemary Lonewolf

Souvenir Horse print by Alex Pena

Gorgeous hand turned wood vessels by Nathan Hart

Whimsical paintings by Julie Buffalohead

Smaller bronze sculptures by Roxanne Swentzell and Philip Hoazous

Bronze coins and miniature limited edition book by Fritz Scholder

Great limited edition prints by Jacob Meders, Steve Yazzie and Peter Jemison

Woven works by Sarah Sense

A small Catnap sculpture by Alan Houser

Northwest coastal serigraphs by Preston Singletary

And the number one reason, your purchase supports contemporary American Indian art, artists and the Heard Museum! (As a non-profit, you never pay any sales tax!)

Shop at the Berlin Gallery this Holiday Season! We’ll take care of the wrapping!

Thank you and the best of the season to you!

Open seven days a week; Monday – Saturday 10 to 5:30, Sunday 11 to 5:30
2301 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004 602.346.8250

Congratulations to Steven Yazzie

2011-12-01T16:20:00.000-08:00

The Berlin Gallery is pleased to congratulate gallery artist, Steven Yazzie (Navajo), whose work was recently purchased by the Phoenix Art Museum for their permanent collection. It has just been installed and may be found in their Contemporary Art wing on the first floor.

Sixteen drawings and a new video are now on view. The works were purchased with funds from Eric Jungermann. Feel free to stop by tomorrow during this month’s First Friday event to see Steven as well. He will be at the museum for a few hours in the evening.

Congratulations Steven!

Roxanne Swentzell

2011-11-27T14:01:00.000-08:00

Sculptor, Roxanne Swentzell (Santa Clara Pueblo) turned to art as a form of communication at a young age. Her works speak to her experiences in life and the different roles she takes on as a Native American, a woman, a wife and so on. Other important influences came from her family including her mother, Rita Swentzell, a potter

In sculpting the human figure Swentzell has found a way to communicate with people that reflect her own emotions but also break down barriers so that everyone can understand and feel involved in the conversation her work evokes. Her figures take on a powerful essence to pull you in.

Generation Tower (pictured at right) is a fine example of how Swentzell blends tradition and innovation to create work that appeals to us because we can relate to it. The figures portray an emotional depth all their own, but also work together to bring the eye up and around the piece from the bottom of the structure to the teddy bear at the top. Stop by the gallery soon to see Swentzell’s work for yourself!

Artists Fall Preview

2011-11-21T14:49:00.000-08:00

As Thanksgiving sneaks up on us this week we here at the Berlin Gallery are thankful to feature so many wonderfully, talented artists. The Artists Fall Preview is up and there is so much to see! We have new lithographs from Fritz Scholder, photographs by Tiffiney Yazzie, and sculpture by Phillip M. Haozous to name a few.

We are also thrilled to have two dazzling pieces by Choctaw artist Walt Wooten. Rich Indian with Guard Dogs and Rich Indian with Two Kissing Horses depict the artist’s decadent, unique style. Work in his “Rich Indian” series challenge conventional expectations as well as blend his schooling and cultural awareness.

If you are planning on attending the Heard’s Harvest Feast be sure to also come into the gallery! We will be open Thanksgiving Day from 10:00am to 5:00pm.

The Nature of Form

2011-10-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

Stop by the gallery soon to see some of Nathan Hart’s (Cheyenne) latest elegant, wooden vessels as well as some fantastic new work by Rick Bartow (Wiyot) in this season’s first show The Nature of Form: Rick Bartow + Nathan Hart. The space looks beautiful and we have many strong, interesting pieces on display for you to enjoy and interpret.

In addition to our fabulous featured artists we have beautiful paintings by Steven Yazzie (Navajo/Laguna Pueblo), detailed monotypes by Norman Akers (Osage Nation of Oklahoma) and many more including graceful sculpture pieces by one of our new artists, Phillip M. Haozous (Chiricahua Apache) son of sculptor, Allan Houser.

New Artist: Tiffiney Yazzie

2011-10-05T15:51:00.000-07:00

The Berlin Gallery is delighted to welcome our newest artist, Navajo photographer Tiffiney Yazzie. Raised in Chinle, Arizona by her grandparents, much of Yazzie’s work reflects her traditional Navajo upbringing. A continuous project, the Rosita series, portrays her relationship with her mother and further explores her heritage and self-awareness.

Yazzie’s powerful images reflect her passion for photography, love for her heritage and contain a strong, enchanting depth. Her work is currently on show at the New Mexico Museum of Art throughout the duration of New Native Photography, 2011 which has been extended to January 8, 2012. You can also view and purchase her work here at the Berlin Gallery during our upcoming show, The Nature of Form: Rick Bartow + Nathan Hart opening on October 21^st. Congratulations Tiffiney!

Image: Self Portrait, Unique Print Ed. 1/1

The Gallery Space

2011-09-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when entering art spaces we forget that the space housing the art can be just as breathtaking as the works themselves. The Berlin Gallery is one such building boasting beautiful natural lighting and a warm atmosphere.

Completed in Summer 2006 by Douglas Architecture and Planning; the gallery measures 1,000 square feet with a 20 foot angled-ceiling. A skylight and windows that run the perimeter of the walls allow for dynamic lighting as the sun moves across the sky. A circular light track also works to highlight the pieces on view.

The first of its kind in the Phoenix metropolitan area, the Berlin Gallery has allowed the exclusive exhibition and sale of the top contemporary Native American artists. Next time you visit the gallery make sure to look up and all around you at this very special space!

Congratulations Doug Hyde!

2011-09-26T10:57:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Berlin Gallery artist Doug Hyde for his multiple awards at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. Out of 50 artists at the sixth annual 2011 Quest for the West Art Show and Sale, Doug Hyde has once again received honors. Not only was his People of the Red Tail Hawk sculpture chosen for the Patron’s Choice Award, Doug also received The Artist of Distinction Award. He is the first sculptor to ever receive the award and he will have a one-person exhibition in the Paul Gallery at the 2012 Quest for the West Art Show and Sale at the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Doug has been honored twice before at the invitational exhibition in the Best Sculpture category. In 2006, with the bronze Sunflower; and in 2009 with the bronze, Honor Song, on view now until October 16 at the Phippen Museum in Prescott, AZ as part of their Native Myths and Legends II exhibition. Doug’s work including the sculpture Sunflower, can be viewed and purchased in the heart of Phoenix at the Berlin Gallery at the Heard Museum.

Stop by today to see the works of Doug Hyde and the many other American Indian artists represented at the Berlin Gallery!

First Show of the Season!

2011-09-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

Spirit Birds

2011-09-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

The wonderful thing about the Berlin Gallery is that there is something for everyone. Whether you are looking for something modern, contemporary, new, big or small you are sure to find it. Rosemary Lonewolf’s (Santa Clara Pueblo) “Spirit Birds” are a great example of smaller sculpture sure to mirror your tastes.

An accomplished ceramic artist, Lonewolf creates pieces that blend tradition with innovation. Her technique is based off of traditional pueblo pottery making and she is one of many talented artists in her family. She is particularly praised for the direction she takes to balance traditional and contemporary views reflected in her work as a truly forward-thinking artist.

“Spirit Birds” were inspired by ceremony. Each sculpture rests on its own “nest” of braided sweet grass or cord. Delicate, unique and affordable these birds are a great way for everyone to have their own small masterpiece created by a renowned artist.

Rosemary Lonewolf, Spirit Bird, ceramic and sweet grass pictured above

Exhibit Extension and 2-for-1 Admission

2011-09-21T13:01:00.000-07:00

The Berlin Gallery will be extending the run of Extraordinary Animals Revisited. This exhibition which includes all of the artists represented in the Berlin Gallery looks at the portrayal of animals in both new and traditional ways. The show will now be on view until October 8. Stop by soon if you haven't had the chance.

While you’re here, check out the Heard Museum. As a special thanks to Arizona residents the Phoenix campus is offering 2-for-1 admission to Maricopa county residents now through Friday, September 30.

Don’t miss out on these exciting opportunities!

Fritz Scholder, Reservation Dog; Lithograph Ed. 11/100 pictured above left
Rick Bartow, Man Acting Like a Dog; Wood, Metal, Joint Compound, Graphite pictured above right

The "Innovator", John Hoover

2011-09-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

It is with great sadness, the Berlin Gallery must share the news of the passing of one of our most beloved artists, John Hoover, Aleut, on September 3rd, 2011 at his home on the Puget Sound in Washington State with his wife, Mary by his side. John Hoover was 91.

John came to art later in life, after working as one of the first ski instructors in Sun Valley, and then working in boat construction; where he mastered carving. He is now recognized as an innovator of Contemporary American Indian Art. He is leaving his mark on our world; gathering fragments of his culture and stretching them into whole images. His work is a blend of shamanism, sea birds, salmon and animals; creating a modern myth based on his heritage.

In May of this year, the University of Alaska Anchorage bestowed upon Hoover an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, on a card he sent to the gallery announcing his degree, he wrote at age 91, "Never Too Old!"

Come to the Berlin Gallery where we have a wonderful collection representative of this great "innovator" in bronze and cedar.

Shown above, "Moon" 38" diameter Bronze Ed. 3/12

Nathan Hart

2011-09-17T13:57:00.000-07:00

Cheyenne artist, Nathan Hart is a self-taught wood turner, but what exactly is woodturning? In the most basic sense, the artist uses a lathe to turn a block of wood, manipulating the shape to create a hollow form by shaving away and turning pieces for a smooth finish. The technique is both involved and precise, with varying needs depending on the desired product.

Hart’s wooden vessels evoke the warmth and richness of the medium, playing up the abstract patterns created in the grain while also incorporating symbolism of his heritage. His work is mesmerizing and sophisticated, delicate and graceful.

This conversation between tradition and innovation is what make Hart’s work so powerful. You can see more of his work on the Berlin Gallery website .

Also be sure to come see Hart’s work in person (don’t forget to check out his technique!) at the Berlin Gallery in the upcoming show The Nature of Form: Rick Bartow and Nathan Hart opening, October 21, 2011.

Narra Vessel, Hand turned Wood, 7.5 (Shown above)

Pretend The World

2011-09-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

Berlin Gallery artist, Julie Buffalohead (Ponca Nation of Oklahoma), creates the cover art for Kathryn Kysar’s newly published poetry collection, Pretend the World.

Buffalohead's work has focused thematically upon describing Indian cultural experience through personal metaphor and narrative. Her work juxtaposes the constantly evolving representations of animal spirit and Coyote motifs.

Stop in the Berlin Gallery to see more works by this amazing artist!

Horsing Around!

2011-08-29T11:47:00.000-07:00

As a Native American symbol, the Horse symbol meanings combine the grounded power of the Earth with wisdom found in the spirit winds. The Horse has long been honored as helper, messenger, and harbinger of spirit knowledge. Considered wild and an emblem of freedom, Native American culture sees the many potentialities in the symbolic nature of this noble creature.

4 different Berlin Gallery artists have depicted horses for the Extraordinary Animals-Revisited, the annual summer exhibition of works depicting animals by gallery artists. Fritz Scholder’s, Another Dream Horse sits as a ghostly sentinel, guarding the entrance to the sub-conscious. In contrast, Alex Pena’s, The Toy Horse, is motion personified. Up close and in the action, it is like you are looking into an old western movie. Rick Bartow’s, Shakespeare’s Dreaming is a lovely etching, again delving into the sub-conscious and the psyche, while Retha Walden Gambaro’s, Running Free, is a more traditional piece in cast bronze with realistic details attached to a wooden mount.

All four artists have shown their unique vision with this powerful animal symbol.

Stop in to see these works and many more from this summer’s exhibition!

New Work From Marla Allison!

2011-08-19T10:41:00.000-07:00

Contemplation
18" x 18"
acrylic on canvas

Marla Allison captivates with her new work, Contemplation. The figure in the image is quiet and ponderous. Allison's signature overlay of cubist sections and brilliance of color add to the mood of this exceptional piece.

What is this girl thinking?

Come by the Berlin Gallery to decide for yourself. See Marla's work and the many other artists represented by the gallery.

Stop in today!

New Collaborative Project at Santa Fe Indian Market!!

2011-07-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

Observe/Recognize: Works from Contemporary American Indian Artists

Organized in collaboration with Legends Santa Fe and the Berlin Gallery at the Heard Museum Shops, this exhibition reveals new frontiers in the contemporary American Indian art field. The show offers a unique perspective of vibrant works from established and emerging Native artists using diverse mediums. Featuring the work of NATALIE M. BALL (Modoc/Klamath), JULIE BUFFALOHEAD (Ponca Nation of Oklahoma), JEFREY GIBSON (Mississippi Band of Choctaw/Cherokee) in collaboration with CROW’S SHADOW PRES, DAVID HANAN (Metis),JACOB MEDERS (Mechoopda Maidu), WENDY RED STAR (Crow Nation), DUANE SLICK (Meshwaki), TIFINEY YAZZIE (Navajo) and STEVEN YAZZIE (Navajo/Laguna Pueblo.)

Join us for a Reception: Thursday August 18, 2011 5-8pm at Legends Santa Fe

Run: August 18 - September 15, 2011 at Legends Santa Fe125 Lincoln Ave. Santa Fe, NM 87501 505.983.5639

Ceramic Works from Rick Bartow

2011-06-17T12:03:00.001-07:00

Crow Figure 12, 6" h x 4" w x 3"d, Anagama Fired Ceramic
Going Coyote, 5.5"h x 3.5"w x 4.5"d, Anagama Fired Ceramic
Looking Up Coyote, 6"h x 3"w x 4"d, Anagama Fired Ceramic

The Berlin Gallery at the Heard Museum Shops currently has a trio of beautiful fired ceramic sculptures from artist Rick Bartow (Wiyot). These particular works have been fired in a process similar to the firing techniques utilized in the 5th century by Japanese, Chinese and Korean ceramists. This process, called anagama – Japanese for “cave kiln” – yields striking, visual ceramics. Even the location of these pieces within the wood burning “cave kilns” is crucial, as it drastically alters each ceramic, coating them in layers of ash, soot and embers which result in unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. Ceramics fired with this process can display agitated, rigid and smooth textures with various zones of natural glaze which represent the visual path of fire and ash within the kiln.

These small sculptures symbolize animals – crows and coyotes - often portrayed in Bartow’s paintings and wood sculptures. Their forms are quite simplistic with colors varying from bronze, rust, charcoal and curry with aspects of metallic glaze throughout. His experiences in various locales such as Germany, Japan and New Zealand inspired his art with the gained knowledge of traditions unlike his own. These works in particular explore the transformational mythology he utilizes in his two dimensional work.

Come by the gallery today to view these and other works by the artists represented at the Berlin Gallery.

Retha Walden Gambaro

2011-06-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

Gratitude I
9.5" X 4" X 3" Bronze Ed. 5,8 of 36
Price available upon request

Fabulous article on the Retha Walden Gambaro exhibit in the Nichols Sculpture Garden at the Heard Museum courtesy of the Phoenix New Times. Come see this exhibit, then stop by the Berlin Gallery at the Heard Museum shops, as we have a wonderful collection of Gambaro's work currently available.

New Arrivals from Steve Yazzie

2011-06-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

Fearsome Critter, Charcoal on Stonehenge Paper, 50"h x 38"w

In conjunction with the Berlin Gallery’s annual summer show “Extraordinary Animals Revisited”, artist Steve Yazzie (Navajo/Laguna Pueblo) recently brought in new charcoal pieces. These large gestural drawings with explored forms of common desert fauna, like jackrabbits and antelope, maintain expressive movements and beautiful lines often utilized in his paintings. We also are intrigued by the smaller explosions of mark-making throughout these series of drawings. The inclusion of a few mythical elements challenge the viewer’s thought and reveals a unifying narrative.

Antelope Studies #4, Charcoal on Strathmore Paper, 15"h x 20"w

In addition to these large pieces, we have also received Antelope Studies #1, 3 and 4. These smaller charcoal drawings focus on the detail of antelope busts in a naturalistic fashion.

Please stop by the gallery today to view these and other new works by the artists at the Berlin Gallery.

The Next Generation

2011-05-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

"My expression is a boil-over of soul, a reflection provoking evolution.

By processing what is very personal, I may present a predicament, suspend disbelief, or explore an alternative in order to harmonize with humanity. I am continually refining; hoping to instigate healing by revealing a truth that makes sense to any intuition."- Rose B. Simpson

Congratulations to Rose B. Simpson for her completion of her MFA from RISD! The MFA Thesis showcase for ceramics and glass titled, Honestly? closed yesterday. Honestly? contextualizes the diverse work of ceramics and glass graduate students in a single environment. The show creates a dialog between a wide variety of materials and methods including, sculpture, performance, and images. For more information on the thesis show, you can visit the website www.honestlyquestion.com

Visit the Berlin Gallery website to view more of Rose's work! The website is continually updated to present the most current work available from our gallery artists!

Congratulations to Roxanne Swentzell!

2011-05-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

Congratulation to Berlin Gallery artist, Roxanne Swentzell (Santa Clara Pueblo) for her recent accolade as the 2011 recipient of the Native Treasures Living Treasure Award, in conjunction with the Native Treasures Indian Art Festival in Santa Fe, NM. Come by and see new Roxanne Swentzell works currently available in the gallery.

Please read the press release in it's entirety HERE

ROXANNE SWENTZELL GIVEN 2011 NATIVE TREASURES LIVING TREASURE AWARD

Santa Fe, NM – The organizers of Native Treasures: Indian Arts Festival are pleased to announce the 2011 recipient of the Native Treasures Living Treasure award: noted sculptor Roxanne Swentzell of the Santa Clara pueblo. The Native Treasures Living Treasure Award acknowledges both the body of work by an artist and the participation of that artist in the community at large. Swentzell is noted not only for her distinctive style of sculpture and its messages, but also for teaching and mentoring young students as she herself was mentored from an early age.

Roxanne‟s distinctive sculptures grace a variety of venues from Cartier in Paris to the Santa Fe Community Convention Center. Her clay and bronze figures represent the complete spectrum of the human spirit with its range of emotions and irrepressible moods. “I feel that many people are out of touch with their environment,” she explains. “I hope that relating to my characters will help them get back in touch with their surroundings and feelings.”

Swentzell often focuses on interpretative female portraits, attempting to bring back the balance of power between the male and female. She has won a variety of awards, including Best of Sculpture at the Santa Fe Indian Market in 1999.

“We are delighted to give this award to Roxanne,” says Jane Buchsbaum, Artist Chairman of Native Treasures. “Not only does she create fabulous, thoughtful works, but she also gives back to her community – an important component of this award. Roxanne protects heirloom seeds, builds houses, and runs a nonprofit organization devoted to sustainable living methods.”

Congrats to Berlin Gallery artist John Hoover

2011-05-25T17:00:00.001-07:00

Puffin Spirit, Bronze, Ed. 4/20 24x21.5x1

Congratulations to Berlin Gallery artist and Aleut sculptor John Hoover for recently being awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Fine Arts from the University of Alaska, Anchorage.

His artistic interests began young with mediums in drawing and painting but he soon ventured into sculpture, beginning with wood carving. Known as an innovator of contemporary Indian art, his works explore shamanism and animal forms, based on his cultural heritage. His beautiful bronze and cedar sculptures are currently on display at the Berlin Gallery in our annual summer show “Extraordinary Animals Revisited.”

Stop by the gallery today to see John Hoover’s graceful and ethereal sculptures as well as new works by the artists represented at the Berlin Gallery.

New Show!!!

2011-05-13T16:50:00.000-07:00

"Let the Good Times Roll"

2011-05-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

It’s spring in the Berlin Gallery, if you haven’t been in in awhile, you must stop by. There is a light, bright, happy vibe….that is not always a description of contemporary art, but the latest show at the Berlin Gallery “Layers” is just that. The show features artists Sarah Sense (Chitimacha/Choctaw); Frank Buffalo Hyde,(Nez Perce/Onondonga); and Benjamin Harjo, Jr. (Seminole/Shawnee). All of the artists provide great color and humor through the work, but it is Benjamin Harjo Jr. who also provides the “happy”.

Harjo’s work stems from his fascination as a child with comics, his real desire was to study animation. When he hopped on a bus to Santa Fe to begin his formal art training he had never picked up a paint brush before, preferring ink and paper. Unbeknownst to him, the animation program was cancelled, so Harjo picked up a paintbrush and continued right through to his degree in Fine arts from Oklahoma State University. Since then, “The Indian Picasso” as he is known, uses a bright, self admittedly, happy palette to tell his whimsical and humorous stories through his geometric figures.

Often his sense of humor, which is well documented through recounts by his closest friends, is portrayed through his titles as well. “Let the Good Times Roll,” Oil Stick on Paper (won best in show at the Heard Museum and Guild’s Indian Fair and Market 2011; “Spud and Nick”, Pen and Ink on Watercolor Paper; and “Gossiper”, Pen and Ink on Watercolor paper; are just a few pieces you can expect to see.

Hurry this show ends May 15^th, but you can also see the work online at www.berlingallery.org.

Creek Games

2011-05-02T14:02:00.000-07:00

Retha Walden Gambaro
Stick Ball Player
Bronze Ed. 18 of 24

The Indian Stick Ball Game is played during the last dance of the season or during the stomp ground's winter dance in late September or October when the weather is cool. Each man uses two ball sticks about 3 ½ feet long with one end shaped like a cup or pocket. The sticks are usually hand carved from hickory wood. The hard, tough ball is smaller than a tennis ball and was made by the medicine men using rolled up animal skin. The women used their hands, but the men were never allowed to touch the ball with their hands. The goal was usually a cow's skull on a tall pole. Some stomp grounds used the image of a fish on the pole. Points were scored by hitting the cow's skull (or fish). Played before or after the Stomp Dance the game looked like a wild scramble as the men and women competed for the ball. The team with the most points won. Two people kept score.

Stop by the Berlin Gallery to see the Stick Ball Player and many more beautiful works of art!

Jacob Meders

2011-04-20T14:31:00.000-07:00

Berlin Gallery artist and MFA candidate in Printmaking, Jacob Meders (Maidu), presents his thesis exhibition, ALTERNATIVE, hosted by the Arizona State University Museum of Anthropology. The exhibition is an interdisciplinary investigation, examining public perception of what it means to be Native American. Meders considers the popular conceptions Euro-American society have developed through the homogenization of indigenous cultures. The body of work ranges from video performance, traditional printmaking, handmade book forms, sculptures, paintings, and 19th century photo processes. ALTERNATIVE invites viewers to reconsider their perceptions of the conditioned history, which have been placed before them.

ALTERNATIVE is on display in the ASU Museum of Anthropology, located in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Cady and Tyler Malls, ASU Tempe Campus. The museum is free and open to the public, Monday–Friday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Congrats Jacob!

Upcoming Show!

2011-04-06T14:42:00.000-07:00

Layers: Sarah Sense + Frank Buffalo Hyde + Benjamin Harjo, Jr. > April 15 through May 16

Reception: April 15, 2011 6- 8pm Benjamin Harjo Jr. and Frank Buffalo Hyde, will be in attendance.

Three artists reveal the layering of either ideas or processes to create their own unique vision, the end result multi-layered works that explore new territories of definition on display and available for sale at the Berlin Gallery.

Sarah Sense, (Chitimacha/Choctaw) explores questions of identity, heritage and gender through her digitally manipulated and woven photographs of Hollywood imagery, archival photographs and personal points of reference. She received her MFA from Parsons School of Design in NYC. Most recently Sense can be seen in the exhibition, Hide at the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution.

Frank Buffalo Hyde (Nez Perce/Onondaga) studied painting at the Santa Fe Fine Arts Institute and the Institute of American Indian Arts. In 2011, the Bridge PAI in partnership with the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia gave Hyde an artist in residency. Hyde mixes Indian imagery with icons of pop culture, expressing what he calls the “fragmented contemporary life” of an American Indian.

Benjamin Harjo, Jr.’s (Seminole/Shawnee) studied at both the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe and Oklahoma State University. In his 30 year career, Harjo has received many prestigious honors and awards and hsi work is included in collections such as the Fred E. Brown Collection at the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Gilcrease Museum, Wheelright Museum, and the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution.

Tell Us A Story!

2011-03-23T13:18:00.001-07:00

Look at this picture and tell us about what's going on.

The Heard Museum is challenging 4th and 8th graders to write their best story about what's happening in this painting She Gets What She Wants by Julie Buffalohead (Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma) in 1000 words or less. The winner's story will be posted on the Heard Museum's website and receive a gift from the Heard Museum Shop.

Here are the rules:

• You must be in 4th through 8th grade
• Your story must be under 1000 words
• You must submit your entry toTellUsAStory@heard.org
• One entry per person
• Your story must have your name, school, grade and location (city and state)

The judges are: Julie Buffalohead (Ponca artist), Janet Cantley (Heard Museum Curator), Gina Laczko (Director of Education), Susan McMichael (Author and Guild Volunteer) and Noelle Bowman (newspaper reporter)

Click HERE for details on this creative and engaging opportunity. All entries must be submitted by May 1, 2011.

New Arrivals at the Berlin!

2011-03-11T09:57:00.000-08:00

Changed Perspective, Acrylic on Canvas, 14"h x 14"w

We have received an assortment of new pieces from Laguna Pueblo painter Marla Allison. One of our favorites is Changed Perspective, a 14”h x 14”w acrylic on canvas painting of a unique and cubist-inspired landscape. Bold geometric shapes in blues, grays and white form an ornate puzzle that almost mimics the appearance of a cityscape, viewed from above the buildings. An overlay of semi-transparent charcoal gray in a broad paint stroke breaks up the composition and adds an organic touch to the primarily geometric design. This deep gray swash of color is reminiscent of a mountain shadow creating a seamless blend of both the natural and the man-made world.

Stop by the gallery today to view this and other beautiful pieces by Marla Allison and the artists represented at the Berlin Gallery.

New Artist at the Berlin!

2011-02-23T13:38:00.000-08:00

Rabbit Boy Tells a Story, Monotype, 22"h x 15"w

Jaune Quick-to-See Smith (Confederated Salish, Kootenai, French Cree, Shosone) is a new artist represented at the Berlin Gallery. As an internationally known artist, she holds three honorary doctorates from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Pennsylvania Academy of the Arts and Massachusetts College of Art. In addition, her work has been shown in over 90 solo exhibitions and showcased in collections from the Whitney Museum of American Art, Museum of Modern Art, NY and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Other honors include a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Woman’s Caucus for the Arts and the Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters Grant. She calls herself “a cultural art worker” who examines the myths and stereotypes of American Indian life while providing strong sociopolitical commentary in her works of art.

One of her pieces, Rabbit Boy tells a Story, is a 22”h x 15”w framed monotype depicting a rust-colored rabbit sitting center stage surrounded by abstracted motifs of trees, flowers, map trails and skulls. Her technique of collage-like compositions and sketched images lend a visual commentary that is often derived from personal experiences. The inclusion of the rough swipes of blue, yellow and orange provide a punch of color that helps form a story-like quality of the social and political views employed by this artist. Could the blue be an indication of water or something entirely different? It’s up to you to decide.

Stop by the gallery today to experience more beautiful abstracted pieces by Jaune Quick-to-See Smith and the other artists represented at the Berlin.

Thank you Jackalope Ranch, New Times!

2011-02-18T10:51:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to Jackalope Ranch, the Phoenix New Times Culture Blog for adding
Common Ground: Doug Hyde + Jaune Quick-To-See-Smith and Steven Yazzie to its Six Must-Sees For Third Friday (Feb. 18th.)

On Common Ground @ Heard Museum

The Heard Museum continues its free Third Friday series, NU (Native + You) with live music by Tierra del Fuego and art by Steven Yazzie, Jaune Quick-To-See-Smith and Doug Hyde. Check out the show in the Berlin Gallery, and grab a few snacks and drinks at the museum's new Coffee Cantina. Yazzie will be in the gallery for questions and discussion from 6 to 8 p.m.. For more information, see the Heard Museum website or the event page.

Indian in Oklahoma

2011-02-11T15:17:00.000-08:00

Indian in Oklahoma, 70"h x 60"w, Acrylic on Canvas

We have a new addition to the Berlin Gallery. Indian in Oklahoma by Fritz Scholder (Luiseno Band of California Mission Indians) is a wonderful representation of style and skill from this celebrated artist. This piece measuring 70”h by 60”w and features a dynamic mix of blues, greens, yellows and pinks.

Come by the gallery today to view this and other pieces by the contemporary artists represented at the Berlin Gallery.

New Arrivals!

2011-02-04T16:07:00.000-08:00

Things That Dangle Mask, Bronze, 11"h, 8"w, 4"d SOLD

New arrivals at the Berlin! This collaborative piece, Things That Dangle Mask by Roxanne Swentzell and Rose B. Simpson (mother and daughter, Santa Clara Pueblo) is part of the “Things that Dangle Mask” series. The bronze mask with a beautiful speckled green patina comes with a pair of earrings that can be sold with the mask or separately.

Good Pair 1, Clay and Metal Chain, 5.5"h, 1.2"w SOLD

The Rose B. Simpson earrings titled Good Pair 1 are rendered in ceramic and depict two highly detailed faces while the backside depicts two uniquely individual motifs in black, white and gray.

Come by the gallery today and see this and other pieces by the artists of the Berlin Gallery.

Alex Peña Monotypes and Prints

2011-01-28T15:12:00.000-08:00

The Temporary Enjoyment of a Contrived Memory #3, 29"h x 41"w, Mixed Media with Monotype

We still have a wonderful array of art pieces by Alex Peña (Comanche Tribe of Oklahoma) available. Pieces vary in size and each one is unique. One of our favorites is The Temporary Enjoyment of a Contrived Memory #3. This mixed media with monotype measures 29”h x 41”w and showcases abstracted swipes of colors in pink, blush, yellow and gray.

Stop by the Berlin Gallery and find your favorite today.

New Artwork by Rick Bartow

2011-01-26T09:34:00.000-08:00

Little Kestrel on Green Field, 20" x 16", Acrylic on Panel

Little Kestrel on Green Field by Rick Bartow (Wiyot) has arrived at the Berlin Gallery! This little bird perched in center composition seems to float within a vast palette of pale greens, yellows, coppers and whites. The brushstrokes Rick utilizes evokes a visual texture that is appealing to the eye and morphs the paint into abstracted motifs.

Come by the Berlin Gallery today to view this and other beautiful pieces by Rick Bartow.

Recent Article on Resurfaced: Jacob Meders + Alex Pena

2011-01-21T12:35:00.000-08:00

Death Mask, 29 x 25.5, Lithograph, Artist Proof

Wonderful new article from the Phoenix New times on Jacob Meders!
Stop by the gallery and see all the great new works available.
Click here to read!

New Show!

2011-01-12T09:33:00.001-08:00

Resurfaced: Jacob Meders + Alex Pena

January 21 through February 14th. Opening January 21 during NU (Native + You) 6 - 8 pm. Featuring live music, wine tasting and a short talk by Jacob Meders.

Back In Black

2011-01-05T10:36:00.001-08:00

Back In Black, Spray paint and Oil on Canvas, 12"x12"

A popular AC DC song, or a painting by Najavo painter Steve Yazzie? It's both. While the song may be an oldie, but goodie, Steve's painting is nothing but new! New brushstrokes on a familiar theme: the rabbit.

A symbol of fertility? Of innocence? Living mostly underground, the animal's sight is reduced and he must navigate by relying on his intuition.

Maybe its this observation that points toward the title of the piece? The rabbit in "Back in Black" sits and waits. The sun sets in the background. On high alert, his eyes are searching the horizon. What is he looking for? Come to the Berlin and decide for yourself.

See you there!

Phoenix New Times!

2010-12-09T11:53:00.000-08:00

Thanks to the New Times and Jackalope Ranch (The Culture Blog) for being so supportive of us!

Click on the link above to look at all the amazing things you can get for the holidays at the Berlin Gallery!! Check out Sarah Sense, Norman Akers and Roxanne Swentzell's work.

New Artist at the Berlin Gallery

2010-12-03T13:15:00.000-08:00

The Indian that Causes Havoc 13''h x 17''w Polymer with Handset type, Ed. 7/10

Jacob Meders is a member of the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, California and presently lives in Tempe, Arizona. He graduated in 2007 with his BFA in painting and a minor in printmaking at Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. He is currently a MFA candidate in Arizona State University’s Printmaking Program and projected to graduate in the spring of 2011.

Recently Jacob has exhibited his work in Illustrious at The Heard Museum North in Scottsdale, AZ and Transcending Traditions at the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, AZ.

Jacob’s work focuses on altered perceptions of place, culture, and identity built on the assimilation and homogenization of indigenous peoples. His work reexamines varied documentations of Native Americans that hold on to stereotypical ideas and how they have affected the culture of the native people. Using book forms and prints as a symbol of western knowledge and the linear mind, Jacob deploys them as a vehicle to challenge new perceptions of Native Americans.

His prints are collected by major universities and other institutions in the United States and internationally.

Buckeye Burl Vessel

2010-12-02T13:58:00.000-08:00

Buckeye Burl Vessel, 9.75''h x 14''w

Last year Nathan Hart was the subject of a Native People's magazine article highlighting him as one of four groundbreaking Native artists of his generation. Hart's artistic vision transforms hallow-form wood turnings into elegant contemporary art forms, setting a new standard for this ancient process. This extraordinary Buckeye Burl vessel is currently available at the Berlin Gallery.

Preston Singletary Prints.

2010-11-19T17:53:00.000-08:00

Preston Singletary, Frog, 18x15 ed. of 100

We currently have wonderful serigraphs available by Preston Singletary. Please stop by the gallery today.

Sharing by Roxanne Swentzell

2010-10-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

Sharing
Original Clay
8.75" H x 9" W x 9" D

This wonderful new original clay sculpture by Roxanne Swentzell is currently available at the Berlin Gallery.

Says Roxanne about this piece, "My grandchildren are learning how to share with each other. I created this piece to help them remember that there are others in the world besides themselves. I thought we could all use a little reminder of how to share the world with each other."

Berlin Gallery artist Joe Feddersen highlighted in the Washington Post

2010-10-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

Berlin Gallery artist, Joe Feddersen's work was recently accessioned into the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), Smithsonian Institution's collection. His work is currently on view in the NMAI exhibition, Vantage Point. This show was recently reviewed by the Washington Post, please see below and click on the link to read the article in it's entirety.

New 'Vantage Point' show at American Indian museum shows off symbolic power

By Blake Gopnik
Washington Post Staff Writer

Sunday, October 10, 2010

'Vantage Point': Empowering, powerful works

Four particular works strike art critic Blake Gopnik as he visits the new exhibit "Vantage Point: The Contemporary Native Art Collection" at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.

“-- "Tire", made by Joe Feddersen, a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes, in 2003.

"Tire" is a large, cylindrical vessel or vase of blown glass, about the size and shape of a bathroom wastepaper basket. Its crisp, clear surface has been sandblasted with the fine patterns of traditional basketwork, making it look almost as though Feddersen had cast an actual basket in frosted glass. In a ring around the middle of the vase, Feddersen lays a bolder, much bigger geometric pattern, angular and black. It starts off looking like it too might be traditional but then, as you take note of Feddersen's title, you realize the pattern is in fact a track from some Mack truck or ATV. (A fine, cream-colored bead around the rim of the vessel looks like it could be a remnant of whitewall.)

The work invites certain easy readings -- of modernity riding roughshod over the past or of the mechanized crushing the natural. But I think the piece invites more subtle interpretations, too. The tire track is too appealing, as a pattern, to be cast as the villain: It is closer to a booming but necessary present, laid over, but not canceling out, a past that's more genteel -- or at least is made to seem that way by time. Indians, like all of us, live in both present and past, and can master both, as Feddersen has done. His work's ambivalence is the source of its power. “

New Show!

2010-09-25T16:12:00.001-07:00

New Works by Steve Yazzie

2010-09-18T15:27:00.000-07:00

New work by Steve Yazzie!

This wonderful new diptych comes straight to the Berlin Gallery from an exhibition at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. Stop by the Berlin to see this piece in person.

Don't Mistake Nostalgia for a Bad Memory

20''h x 40''w x 2.25''d Oil/Acrylic on Canvas

Native + You

2010-08-16T16:25:00.000-07:00

Don’t forget to make plans to attend Native + You this Friday, August 20th. Please stop by the gallery to see our summer highlight, Coyotes and other Artful Creatures. We have many gorgeous works of art by our Berlin Gallery artists!

Winter Dance by G. Peter Jemison!

2010-08-09T16:16:00.000-07:00

G. Peter Jemison (Seneca) sent us two spectacular wood block prints for our summer highlight, Coyotes and other Artful Creatures.

Winter Dance, Wood Block Print (Artist Proof), 21” h x 18”w (framed), 2005

Winter Dance is a beautiful rendition of a dancing crow. Peter’s use of a rich saturated black against the white of winter creates a striking contrast which adds movement and texture to the print. Currently, we have two Artist Proof prints available. One framed in a lovely silver metal which measures 21” high by 18” wide. The other print is unframed and measures 14” high by 13” wide.

Peter’s reverence for nature is evident in his depiction of crows in nature. Please stop by the gallery to see more of Peter’s works of art!

Photograph by Will Wilson

2010-08-05T16:22:00.000-07:00

Auto Immune Response Series Baird's Tapir, Archival Pigment Print , 24''h x 47''w, 2009

In conjunction with our summer highlight, Coyotes and other Artful Creatures, Will Wilson sent us Auto Immune Response Series Baird's Tapir. Will’s attention to detail is evident in the rich blacks and bright whites in his photography. The photograph is famed in a beautiful matte frame and measures 24” high by 47” wide. Please stop by the gallery to see more of Will’s work of art!

Monotypes by Steve Yazzie!

2010-07-26T15:05:00.000-07:00

Little Greenie, Monotype, 11''h x 14''w, 2010

In conjunction with our summer highlight, Coyotes and Other Artful Creatures, Steve Yazzie (Navajo/Laguna Pueblo) sent us a series of gorgeous monotypes. The monotypes’ range in size from 10''h x 12''w to 11''h x 14''w and all are very unique to Steve’s style of art work. Please stop by to see them in person or call the gallery at 602.346.8250!

In the Flowers, Monotype, 10''h x 12''w, 2010

Blue Cactus, Monotype, 10''h x 12''w, 2010

Chick and Hen by Doug Hyde!

2010-07-19T16:53:00.000-07:00

Chick and Hen, Bronze (Artist Proof Ed. of 10), 9.75''h x 20''w x 9''d, 2006

In conjunction with our summer highlight, Coyotes and other Artful Creatures, Doug Hyde (Nez Perce/Assiniboine/Chippewa) sent us Chick and Hen. The two elegant chickens and three hens exude personality which is evident in the positioning of their heads. The caramel color of the patina is highlighted by soft yellow highlights and black striations representing the veining found in natural stone. Please stop by the gallery to see more of Doug’s works of art!

Sometimes I Just Sit by Roxanne Swentzell!

2010-07-15T17:04:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I Just Sit, Bronze Open Edition, 5''h x 5''w x 6''d, 2010

We’re thrilled renowned sculptor Roxanne Swentzell (Santa Clara Pueblo) just sent us another beautiful sculpture! Sometimes I Just Sit emanates a sense of contentment and serenity and is marked by the artist’s attention to detail in the facial features. The soft brown patina and small dimensions serves to accentuate these characteristics.

Be sure to stop by the Gallery and look for this new Roxanne Swentzell when you visit us this summer!

NU this Friday, July 16th!

2010-07-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

Please join us in the Berlin Gallery from 6:30 to 7:30 for wine tastings and to see our summer highlight, Coyotes and other Artful Creatures. We have many new works of art by the artists’ represented by the Berlin Gallery.

Guests can also enjoy a cash bar, a sampling of services from Aji Spa at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and hear a musical collaboration by BPM Cadenza in the Crossroads Gallery at 7PM.

New painting by Hoka Skenandore!

2010-07-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

I Get By, Acrylic on Vinyl, 13" x 13", 2010 SOLD

In conjunction with our summer highlight, Coyotes and other Artful Creatures, Hoka Skenandore (Oneida/Oglala Lakota/Luiseno) created a gorgeous painting, I Get By. Hoka’s use of color, layered imagery on a vinyl record and record cover makes this an outstanding painting. Please stop by the gallery to see more works of art by the artists' represented by the Berlin Gallery!

Rick Bartow

2010-07-06T14:45:00.000-07:00

We’re thrilled Rick Bartow (Wiyot) sent us these two extraordinary paintings for our summer highlight, Coyotes and other Artful Creatures.

Two Magpies, Acrylic on Panel, 20” x 16”, 2010

We adore Rick’s use of saturated black for the Two Magpies against an intense red and orange background which gives each bird his own personality.

Crow and Morning Early Winter Frost, Acrylic on Panel, 20” x 16”, 2010

In Crow and Morning Early Winter Frost we adore the regal stance of Crow among the early morning frost. Each painting measures 20” high by 16” wide and would be a nice addition in any art collection. Please stop by the Berlin Gallery to see more of Rick Bartow’s works of art!

Rosemary Lonewolf

2010-07-03T16:39:00.000-07:00

In conjunction with our summer show, Coyotes and other Artful Creatures, Santa Clara Pueblo artist Rosemary Lonewolf created these wonderful little ceramic birds with sweet grass nests. They come in various sizes and prices. Please call the gallery for yours! 602.346.8250

New Bears by Tony Jojola!

2010-06-28T16:05:00.000-07:00

Bear, Glass, Various sizes, 2010

Tony Jojola (Isleta Pueblo) sent us a splendid assortment of Bears for our summer highlight, Coyotes and other Artful Creatures. Tony’s design and technical skills paired with the fluidity of glass create magnificent one of a kind Bear sculptures. Tony’s use of many different color palettes’ and pose give each Bear a unique personality. Please stop by the Berlin Gallery to view more of Tony’s superb art work!

New painting by Hoka Skenandore!

2010-06-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

The Origin of Man, Acrylic on Canvas, 18" x 18", 2010

Hoka Skenandore (Oneida/Lakota/Luiseno) sent us this amazing painting The Origin of Man for our summer highlight, Coyotes and Other Artful Creatures. We adore the colorful palette and subject matter compositionally arranged on an 18” x 18” canvas! Please stop by the gallery to see many other remarkable work of art by the artists represented by the Berlin Gallery!

NU (Native + You)

2010-06-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

Please make plans to attend NU this Friday, June 18th, 2010! The Berlin Gallery will remain open until 8PM! Please stop by to see our summer highlight, Coyotes and Other Artful Creatures, which is on display until September 20th.

Allan Houser smaller works

2010-06-14T13:54:00.000-07:00

Standing Owl, Bronze, Ed. 88/250 8x2x1

Two wonderful bronze pieces by the late master sculptor Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache) are back in the gallery this summer. Both of these smaller works are limited editioned pieces. Come by and see them today.

School, Bronze, Ed. 62/100, 4.5x2x1.5

Father's Day gifts!

2010-06-08T16:43:00.000-07:00

Norman Akers, All Things Connected, Lithograph Ed. 44/60, 30''h x 22''w, 2007

Surprise dad this Father’s Day with a truly unique gift from the Berlin Gallery! We have a wonderful selection of gifts from artists’ such as Nathan Hart (Cheyenne), John Hoover (Aleut) and Norman Akers (Osage Nation of Oklahoma). Please stop by the gallery and we will be happy to help you select a gift from the artists’ represented at the Berlin Gallery!

Nathan Hart, Masur Birch Vessel, Finnish Wood, 5.75''h x 5.25''w, 2009

John Hoover, Blue Jay Feast Dish, Bronze Ed. 1/20, 21''h x 11''w, 2010

New work by Norman Akers!

2010-05-25T16:13:00.001-07:00

Transcience, Oil on Panel, 22” x 20”, 2009

New Place, Oil on Panel, 22” x 20”, 2009

Norman Akers (Osage Nation of Oklahoma) sent us these magnificent paintings for our summer highlight, Coyotes and Other Artful Creatures. Norman's use of a bright color palette adds vibrancy to his subject matter. Each painting on panel measures 22” high by 20” wide and will certainly compliment any art collection. Please stop by the gallery to view more of Norman’s art work!

On the Walk

2010-05-22T14:59:00.000-07:00

On The Walk, Monotype

In this small series of prints, a strange and mysterious character in very small shorts, rides a coyote wolf dog. The character is called the Tsosido. The Tsosido represents a personal and private mythology associated with memories, dreams and stories I’ve heard throughout my life; it functions as a figure, concept and a symbol with multiple meanings.

The impetus for Tsosido came from a story my uncle told me about my father, Lemuel (Steve) Yazzie who I never really knew. Tsosido was his nickname and to this day I get mixed responses from my aunts and uncles about the origin and meaning of Tsosido. All I know is it’s a name attached to my family, my history and to the unknown. It’s maybe in the latter that gives the Tsosido any meaning and power.

In the past I’ve introduce the “Tsosido” as installation work, and also in another print format, photogravure. In each case the meaning of Tsosido was something a little different, but still related. In the new series, “On the Walk”, the Tsosido meaning again has shifted and narrative has slightly changed again into something not completely defined. What I do know is I’m very interested in this new process of image making (monoprint), and the unpredictable outcomes are part of what makes these so interesting and enjoyable. -- Steven Yazzie

Sneak Peek!

2010-05-17T16:02:00.000-07:00

Our 2010 summer highlight, Coyotes and Other Artful Creatures, will run May 21 through September 30th. Laguna Pueblo painter Marla Allison sent us a striking new painting, Blue Birds and Trees.

Blue Birds and Trees, Acrylic on Canvas, 30''h x 24''w, 2010

In Blue Birds and Trees, Marla utilizes a broad green color palette which is also accentuated by neutral blue, brown and white. The cheerful petite Blue Birds are perched atop abstract tree limbs which scatter across the 30” by 24” canvas. Please stop by the gallery to see more of Marla’s paintings!

Coming up Next Week!

2010-05-15T14:26:00.001-07:00

May 21 through September 30, choose from a selection of distinctive yet affordable
artwork by many artists in the Berlin Gallery’s summer show Coyotes and other Artful
Creatures. Don’t miss this chance to see works on paper, paintings, photography and
sculpture featuring coyotes along with other artful creatures.

American Indian contemporary artists portray fanciful and realistic animals in works
that are both new and traditional. Coyotes and other Artful Creatures offers the nature
lover, the beginner and the experienced collector an opportunity to purchase an
original piece of artwork.

Rosemary Lonewolf, Santa Clara Pueblo, creates whimsical ceramic and bronze
birds. The collaborative work of sculptors Lisa Holt and Harlan Reano, Cochiti Pueblo
and Santo Domingo Pueblo, melds both traditional forms and designs with modern
interpretations of their cultures, creating exciting new creatures made of clay.
Julie Buffalohead, Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma, creates illustrative paintings that mix
modern-day fairytales with traditional Native stories. Local painter Steven Yazzie,
Navajo/Laguna Pueblo, showcases new work featuring his highly provocative
“coyote” series. G. Peter Jemison, Seneca, creates unique drawings of reservation
dogs and three-dimensional works on paper bags of animals indigenous to New York
State. Doug Hyde, Nez Perce/Assiniboine/Chippewa, forms powerful bronzes of
rabbits and elk that are sure to please.

Enjoy the Berlin Gallery at NU

Join us Friday, May 21, from 6 to 8 p.m., when the Berlin Gallery will
stay open late for NU (Native + You). Enjoy music by Dry River Yacht Club,
outdoor cash bars and the IKEA lounge, plus dining at the Café until 8 p.m.
Learn more about NU at heard.org/NU.

Photo still by Nicholas Galanin!

2010-05-03T16:14:00.001-07:00

Tsu Heidei Sluqaxtutaan Pt. 1 (Photo Still), Ink Jet Print (Ed. 1/10), 12''h x 17''w Framed

We’re thrilled to present Nicholas Galanin’s (Tlingit/Aleut) video installation Tsu Heidei Sluqaxtutaan Pt. 1. We also have for purchase a photo still from Tsu Heidei Sluqaxtutaan Pt. 1. These beautiful ink jet photo stills are available in an edition of 10. Please stop by the gallery to see Nicholas’ video installation and his beautiful photo still!

New Doug Hyde sculpture!

2010-04-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

Southwest Summer Showers Maquette, Bronze (Open Edition), 8''h x 3.5''w x 4''d, 2010

We just received this lovely Southwest Summer Showers Maquette by Doug Hyde (Nez Perce/Assiniboine/Chippewa). Doug’s attention to detail is evident in the concha belt, flowing skirt and facial features. The soft greenish blue patinas are highlighted against the underlying golden brown patina. This Open Edition table top sculpture stands 8” high by 3 ½” wide by 4” deep and will fit very nicely into any art collection. Please stop by the gallery to view more of Doug Hyde’s gorgeous art work!

New video installation by Kade L. Twist!

2010-04-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

Judeo Christian Western Scientific World View
Single channel video installation with sound.
Projection size varies, running time: 4:12, 2 of 3

We’re thrilled to have Kade L. Twist’s (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) video installation Judeo Christian Western Scientific World View playing on the large projector in the Berlin Gallery. Kade explains “Judeo Christian Western Scientific Worldview is the first work in the series of installations titled Buzzard Via Satellite. The series provides a contemporary re-imagination of the traditional Cherokee story Hunter and Buzzard. The installations examine economic, cultural and ecological sustainability at the dawn of the 21st Century through the various narratives of California condors reared in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s multi-agency California Condor Recovery Program. The series utilizes the relationship between the federal government and the California condor as a metaphor for examining the relationship between the federal government and American Indians.”

Please stop by the gallery to see Images Forward and experience innovative new media.

New highlight in the Berlin Gallery!

2010-04-13T10:28:00.001-07:00

Please join us this Friday, April 16^th for our new highlight Images Forward which runs from April 16^th to May 19th. We will be featuring three magnificent artists: Nicholas Galanin (Tlingit/Aleut), Erica Lord (Athabascan/Inupiaq) and Kade L. Twist (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma). Stop by to purchase art work and experience innovative new media, including video and photo stills by three conceptual Native artists who balance culture and unique content with personal vision, creating a vibrant new voice in American Indian art.

Great Article!

2010-04-03T12:09:00.000-07:00

Great new article in Art Ltd. Magazine's most recently issue. It talks in detail about Contemporary American Indian art. Very interesting and includes many Berlin Gallery artists.

Click here to read!

New Richard Zane Smith art work!

2010-03-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

Large Spiral Vessel, Ceramic, 17''h x 15.25''w, 2010 SOLD

We recently received another spectacular sculpture by Oklahoma based ceramic artist Richard Zane Smith (Wyandot). Large Spiral Vessel is a dynamic combination of graphic design and master ceramic skills. The spiral designs are further enhanced by the elegant shape. We are thrilled to have this vessel in the Berlin Gallery! Please stop by the gallery to view more of Richard’s stunning art work!

New ceramic sculptures in the Berlin Gallery!

2010-03-22T16:21:00.001-07:00

Lisa Holt and Harlan Reano, Untitled, Traditional Clay and Slips, 17''h x 9''w x 10.5''d, 2010

We’re thrilled to have just received new ceramic sculptures by Jason Garcia (Santa Clara Pueblo), Richard Zane Smith (Wyandot), Lisa Holt and Harlan Reano (Cochiti Pueblo and Santo Domingo Pueblo). Please stop by the gallery to see this fantastic assortment of new work!

Richard Zane Smith, Box Form, Ceramic and bone, 11''h x 7''w x 4''d, 2010

New work by Rose B. Simpson!

2010-03-15T11:32:00.000-07:00

Fuel: Issues of Racial Identity, Japanese Clay, Cloth, Leather, 14''h x 5.5''w x 3''d, 2010

We just received three new sculptures from Rose B. Simpson (Santa Clara Pueblo). Rose states: “The faces were made during my foreign study trip to Japan through my graduate study in ceramics at the Rhode Island School of Design. The faces are made with the ancestral Japanese Bizen, Mino, and Shigaraki clays, each having their individual unique qualities. They were fired in a traditional Japanese Anagama (wood fire) kiln near Asuka, in Nara Prefecture. This firing requires a specific wood; the Red Pine, which is used because the ash of the wood is what creates the surface glaze during the week-long high-fire process.

The kiln needed to be watched 24 hours a day until reaching temperature, so I spent some long cold nights feeding the wood into the flame, watching the temperature of the monstrous kiln slowly rise. The amount of wood used to fire this kiln was phenomenal. The amount of energy required to bring this clay to it's refractory state required the death of so many trees. In any firing of clay products, large amounts of fuel is needed, be it gas, electric or wood. This made me think about energy, and how it is exchanged throughout everything. The fuel needed to create the vessel we then feed ourselves with, the energy our food becomes so that we may turn around and create a vessel or an art piece; anything that moves creation forward.

There are different ways that we all use this energy; these pieces each have their own path and the energy needed to follow it. How will these small parcels of combined energy then move the world forward?”

Native Clay: Jason Garcia + Richard Zane Smith + Lisa Holt + Harlan Reano

2010-03-12T15:30:00.000-08:00

New Work!

2010-03-09T15:18:00.001-08:00

We recently received many new works of art by our Berlin Gallery artists!

Nathan Hart, Olive Vessel, Coolabah Vessel.

Oklahoma based artist Nathan Hart (Cheyenne) just dropped off a variety of new wood vessels. Olive Vessel and Coolabah Burl Vessel are both beautifully designed and skillfully executed vessels which were made in February 2010!

Please stop by the gallery to meet three extraordinary Artists!

2010-03-01T13:15:00.000-08:00

We are so excited! Rick Bartow, Sarah Sense and Hoka Skenandore will be in the Berlin Gallery during the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market this Saturday, March 6^th, 2010! Please stop by the gallery to meet the artists and view their highlight,

Vision: Rick Bartow + Sarah Sense + Hoka Skenandore.

Rick Bartow, Standing Elk Man II, Pastel, Charcoal, Graphite on Paper, 50” x 36”, 2009

Sarah Sense, Young and Impressionable Series, Cowgirls, Woven Digital Prints, 38” x 29”, 2007

Hoka Skenandore, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Acrylic on Vinyl, 13” x 13”, 2009 SOLD

New work by Sarah Sense!

2010-02-22T15:20:00.000-08:00

Sarah Sense (Chitimacha/Choctaw) sent three gorgeous new pieces for her joint highlight, Vision: Rick Bartow + Sarah Sense + Hoka Skenandore. Sarah’s combination of imagery, basketry patterns and bold colors makes these pieces dazzle. Please stop by the gallery to see these striking pieces!

Jump! Rocklin, Archival Inkjet Print, Silkscreen, Artist Tape, 34” x 64”, 2010

Jump! Brooklyn and Bayou, Archival Inkjet Print, Silkscreen, Artist Tape, 34” x 64”, 2010

Jump! Palm Tree and Cypress, Archival Inkjet Print, Silkscreen, Artist Tape, 34” x 64”, 2010 SOLD

Hoka!!

2010-02-20T12:29:00.000-08:00

Bitter Sweet Sympathy, Acrylic on Vinyl, 13x13 SOLD

Congratulations Hoka!

The Berlin Gallery is excited to announce that Berlin artist, Hoka Skenandore, is a Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, Inc. (SWAIA) 2010 Artist Fellowship Winner. Please stop by the gallery to see Hoka's work currently on display.

Please join us this Friday, February 19th for NU!

2010-02-15T15:32:00.000-08:00

Please make plans to join us this Friday, February 19th for NU! The Berlin Gallery will remain open until 8PM for our new highlight, Vision: Rick Bartow + Sarah Sense + Hoka Skenandore. Three visionary artists who encompass many different mediums will have work for sale at the Berlin Gallery, February 19th – March 19th. We look forward to seeing you there!

Valentine’s Day!

2010-02-08T13:43:00.000-08:00

Heart Box, Brown Alabaster, 5.5'' x 5.25'' x 2'', 2007

This Valentine's Day, share your love with a romantic gift from the Berlin Gallery. Heart Box by Doug Hyde (Nez Perce/Assiniboine/Chippewa) was lovingly sculpted from brown alabaster. This gorgeous brown alabaster’s color field ranges from a soft milky white to a lovely soft cocoa color . Please stop by the gallery or give us a call and we can help you find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift!

Sharing by Roxanne Swentzell!

2010-02-01T14:19:00.000-08:00

Sharing, Bronze Ed 3/35, 8.75" x 9” x 9", 2010

Roxanne Swentzell (Santa Clara Pueblo) sent us a new bronze delightfully titled, Sharing. Roxanne explains, “My grandchildren are learning how to share with each other. I created this piece to help them remember that there are others in the world besides themselves. I thought we could all use a little reminder of how to share the world with each other.” Please stop by the gallery to see Sharing and more of Roxanne’s beautiful sculptures!

Will Wilson Recives the Mitchell Award

2010-01-30T11:27:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Berlin Gallery artist Will Wilson

Auto Immune Response #1, black and white archival photograph ed. of 10

Artist Will Wilson Receives Prestigious Mitchell Award

Santa Fe, NM – The Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, a center of the Institute of American Indian Arts, is pleased to announce that Will Wilson, the Museum’s Vision Project manager, is a recipient of a 2009 Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters and Sculptors grant. Wilson was one of 25 artists in the country to receive this prestigious award.

Wilson said, “It’s an honor to receive the Mitchell Award. Looking at its history and the remarkable artists it has supported verifies that Joan Mitchell was a true visionary and it’s amazing to be included in this group. For me, the award reinforces that I am an artist who is creating sensory experience through sensual spaces.”

The Joan Mitchell Foundation was established in April 1993 as a not-for-profit corporation following the death of Joan Mitchell in October 1992. The Foundation strives to fulfill the ambitions of Joan Mitchell to assist the needs of contemporary artists and to demonstrate that painting and sculpture are significant cultural necessities. The Painters and Sculptors Grant Program was established by the foundation in 1993 to assist individual artists. The grants are given to acknowledge painters and sculptors creating work of exceptional quality. Grant nominators and jurors include prominent visual artists, curators, and art educators.

Wilson began as the Vision Project Manager in October of 2009. The Vision Project is part of the Ford Foundation’s grant initiative “Advancing the Dialogue on Native American Arts in Society” that seeks to “provide national and international leadership in determining the role of Native American arts and culture while advancing education about contemporary Indigenous art in the twenty-first century.” Wilson holds a master of fine arts degree in photography from the University of New Mexico . As an artist he has produced large scale multi-media installations that incorporate photography and sculpture, monumental public artworks and intimate photo essays. His “Auto Immune Response” series garnered him the prestigious 2007 Eiteljorg Fellowship for Native American Fine Art.

Elegant vessels by Nathan Hart!

2010-01-25T14:43:00.000-08:00

We currently have an assortment of exquisite vessels by Cheyenne artist Nathan Hart. Nathan’s hollow form turnings gracefully combine hand formed shapes with different species of wood. Each vessel embodies the classic ideals of purity, beautifully grained patterns and thin taut walls. Then Nathan skillfully finishes each vessel to bring out the natural luster of the wood.

Cocobolo Vessel, Mexican wood, 4 ½” x 4 ¾”, 2009 SOLD

Cocobolo Vessel is a rich brown wood originating from Mexico and stands 4 ½” high by 4 ¾” in diameter.

Masur Birch Vessel, Finnish wood, 5 ¾” x 5 ¼”, 2009

Masur Birch Vessel is a warm taupe and cream wood from Finland and stands 5 ¾” tall and 5 ¼” in diameter.

Each of Nathan’s vessels is able to be displayed independently or as a grouping. Please stop by the gallery to view more of Nathan’s hollow form turnings!