Roberta Begaye
Nob Hill Sign
Contemporarily Indigenous is how I describe my artwork; spinning the past of my traditional and cultural upbringing with an abstract contemporary twist to the weaving designs of my grandmother and to my visions. I weave paintings in layers with a broad stylistic range that extends from colorful representational images of animals to abstract expressionist works incorporating graffiti. I begin each painting with a short prayer and an offering of tobacco blessing the canvas; I always want it to have positive energy because every piece I create is a part of me.
Joseph Stacey
Nob Hill Sign
My name is Joseph Stacey and I am from the Laguna Pueblo and Hopi nations. As I began this project, I imagined creating a sign that serves a variety of purposes, including providing a sense of direction for the mind, body, and soul. The top two images provide orientation, with the Pueblo woman standing against the Sandias in the East, while abstract Cranes dance against a Western sunset on the opposite side. The woman herself is a marker of Indigenous Matriarchy as she carries a pot of water across the land. Below her is the year of the infamous Pueblo Revolt of 1680, recognizing the history and original occupants of this space. On the reverse is a reminder for the body to stop, and take a breath, amidst a busy and chaotic life. Finally, the importance of Water is reflected in the bottom two abstract images, incorporating Pueblo design. My vision is for the passerby to react with the sign, acknowledging the natural world and their impact, and recognizing Indigeneity.