Native American artist, illustrator, writer, and educator
Shonto Begay is a Native American artist, illustrator, writer, and teacher. He began his artistic career in 1983 and his art features landscapes and other cultural elements of Navajo life.
Biography and education
Begay was born into the Diné tribe on February 7, 1954, near Shonto, Arizona.[1] His mother was a Navajo weaver from the Bitter Water clan and his father was a medicine man from the Salt clan.[2] Begay was named via a traditional Navajo naming ceremony that is held once a baby has their first laugh; this name is only used by family members and Begay was given an American name by the government, "Wilson".[3] Begay later changed this first name to his great-great grandmother's name, Shonto.[3]
Begay had fifteen siblings and his family lived in three hogans, which had no water or power.[3] He spent his childhood herding sheep, reading books, and drawing. Begay did not initially see art as a viable career until he reached high school, as he initially believed that everyone knew how to draw.[4] He attended a residential boarding school near Flagstaff, where he was expected to assimilate into western society. He, along with other children, were prohibited from expressing any aspects of their culture and would receive corporal punishment if they did otherwise.[2] During this time, Begay coped with boarding school life by painting and drawing, which he often had to do in secret. This has prompted him to describe the act of painting as "removing myself from harsh reality and living in that world of beauty I have the power to create with my hand".[2] During the summer Begay was allowed to return home to his parents, where he made sure to spend the time immersed in his culture.[3]
Begay has worked as a National Parks ranger in Arizona and Wyoming and in 1983, began to paint professionally.[6] He later moved back to his Navajo reservation in Arizona and currently lives in Kayenta, where he works on his art in a hogan located about 30 miles away from his house. He also teaches workshops to youth and believes that "art saves lives".[2][6][3]
Artworks
Art style and subject matter
Begay's paintings depicts many aspects of Native American life; he has stated that he paints the landscapes of his reservation, the spiritual and cultural lore of the Diné, and the harsh realities of life on the reservation.[7] His art has been likened to the art movement of social realism, as critics have stated that his art fights against the romanticism of native life.[2] His style has also been compared to that of Vincent van Gogh and neo-impressionists. Begay has commented about those comparisons, as he believes his style to be individualistic and that he paints "with an impressionistic sensibility" that he states comes from "the whole idea of reciting the chants, the ancient prayers. Every syllable of every word is recited to maintain the beauty. So, each stroke, each line, each color, dot, and dash — to me, those are syllables to the holy words I grew up with. I grew up in the rhythm of late-night chants, songs, and of course, the creation of holy sand paintings. I think a lot of the vision is coming from that."[2][7][8]
Begay's artwork features a recurring characteristic where light seeps through and illuminates some elements of the painting, which Michael Abatemarco of the Santa Fe New Mexican states harmoniously balances beauty (light) with the subject matter of the painting.[2]
This painting was done in a birds-eye view, and it features a group of people scattered on the floor who appear to be unconscious; the only one awake is a kitten, and it is looking up, meaning it is staring at the viewer. A person's shadow can be seen holding the door open and observing the situation. Shonto discusses this painting during an interview; he mentions that the cat looking straight at the viewer reminds them that there is still hope in this chaotic world. He also discusses the shadow and how it represents the viewers dilemma, the dilemma being, "Do I step into this confusion and embrace it, or do I stay out of the light?"
This painting features a man who is emerging from the side of a mesa. The mesa is detailed with swirls and lines, and the background is detailed with etches of angels. The man who is emerging from the side of the mesa represents Shonto, and he expresses that this painting represents his relationship between the Navajo spiritual realm and Christianity. The man is coming out from the side of the mesa because the stories of Christianity are "alluring" to him.
This painting features a starry night sky, and the floor is covered with snow. There is a figure walking through the snow, and the figure is see-through. Shonto says that this painting is "tickling the spirit world, people who have passed and still walking on the land, where they belonged".
Exhibitions/shows
Solo exhibitions
"Rhythm of the Blue Highway", Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery (Foothills, Arizona), October 1–31, 2018.[12][13]
"Solo Show", Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery (Foothills, Arizona), 2013.[17]
"Reclaimed by Snakeweeds IV", Santa Fe Indian Market, 2008.[18]
Group exhibitions
"Modern West Holidays", Modern West Fine Art Gallery (Salt Lake City, Utah), November 19, 2019 – January 10, 2020.[19]
"The Western Sublime: Majestic Landscapes of the American West", Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block (Tucson, Arizona), October 19, 2019– February 9, 2020.[20]
