LAGUNA, NM—Indian Arts Center in Laguna is an important home to many of the Pueblo’s skilled artists. Many people prefer to buy their favorite art objects and jewelry directly from the artist. The Center often showcases its artists on special occasions. This gives them a chance to meet their collectors.
On this day, grey clouds threatened to spoil the market for the artists. They were setting up their exhibits outside but didn’t seem concerned.
Dominic Quiroz, the owner and manager of the Center has a unique idea for a guest book. He has his guests sign a page in an atlas. The guest can circle his hometown on the state’s or country’s page and sign next to it. His most recent international visitor who signed his atlas guestbook was visiting our state from Wales, England.
Quiroz learned the art business from his parents. His family began their shop modestly, at the scenic overview on Interstate 40, now closed. Quiroz was with his family and was only 3 years old. The current location has been serving the art community for 24 years. It was first opened in 1999.
Quiroz displays not only tribal art objects but also his joy in sharing his friends’ creative achievements. He is not one of the artists on display at the Center, but besides being the manager, his skill is in making the fresh frybread also offered. Frybread is popular with guests and locals.
Leonard Bautista, of Paguate Village in Laguna Pueblo, works in several materials and has worked with seed beads, the very smallest bead, for 25 years. He recounted how he first became interested in designing with beads. His brother was the first to be interested. Bautista introduced him to a friend who taught his brother to work with beads. Bautista was not interested then, but later, he learned from his brother.
The beadwork artist sometimes works on a loom to produce a larger necklace, bracelet, or choker, and to have a more intricate pattern. Bautista‘s designs in leather are creative and practical. He wears a simple bow guard, a leather wristband traditionally worn only by men. His next project will be for a woman. He has designed a tri-section choker of suede that he plans to embellish with his bead designs.
Bautista’s finished pieces are even and smooth. He didn’t reveal a special technique, “it just takes time to improve,” he said.
Newlyweds, Shane and Michelle Coop have a long relationship with the Center. They are good examples of the innovative generation that makes traditional art but is always open to fresh techniques in self-expression.
Terra Sigillata, an ancient technique, is a new style Coop is learning. The technique dates back to the Roman Empire. It has a long history of use, from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD. Using the Terra Sigillata technique produced the bright red pottery that was popular in that period. (Terra sigillata ware | Samian ware, Arretine ware, Italian pottery | Britannica) Coop also displayed his work of clay etching and designs using horsehair fired into the pottery. His clay sculpture of an approximately 8 inches tall roadrunner with a horsehair finish exemplifies this forwardmoving creative attitude.
Ben Marquez, of Seboyeta, a nearby Spanish village, works with metals, mostly silver and gold. He also inserts a diamond-like stone, moissanite. Moissanite is a mineral composed of silicon carbide. It was discovered inside a meteorite in Canyon Diablo, Arizona, by Nobel Prize-winning chemist Henri Moissan in 1893. (Moissanite vs. Diamond: What is Moissanite? (brilliantearth.com) The mineral was first mistaken for diamond but later discovered to be silicon carbide. Today it is grown in laboratories and is a popular alternative to diamonds. Moissanite also registers 10 on the Mohs scale, is slightly more brilliant than a diamond, and can be grown in colors.
Alfred Pino, another Laguna artist who paints murals, pottery, and fine designs on holiday decorations, provided the day’s restful music. Playing his flute helped to create a calm atmosphere for visiting with artists, viewing their work, and enjoying some frybread.