Announcing a one-of-a kind art show:
Honoring Weavers with Canvas and Bronze
The story of two Colorado artists, one Navajo trading post, 45 weaving families, and 350 years of history
On June 18, 2011, Toadlena Trading Post will host the opening of Wopila Artist Guild’s first benefit show, Honoring Weavers with Canvas and Bronze.
This show celebrates the Navajo weavers of Toadlena through a special painting and sculpture exhibit by renowned artists James Ayers and Craig Bergsgaard, co-founders of Wopila Artist Guild.
“The weavers of Toadlena are living, breathing history. Their only modernization of Navajo weaving in 350 years is the use of eyeglasses.” ~Craig Bergsgaard, Wopila Artist Guild co-founder
Imagine working in your chosen profession using only the technology available in your great-great-great-grandmother’s era. Now imagine that using these primitive resources, you are able to produce something so masterful that it is unrivaled by any other maker – either man or machine.
Now you have a glimpse of the remarkable work of the Navajo weavers of the Toadlena Trading Post region.
These artisans weave sophisticated textiles using the same methods their ancestors have been using for over three hundred years. This painstaking process includes raising, shearing, and hand-spinning their lustrous natural-colored wools from the few remaining flocks in existence.
Long-haired white goat from a Toadlena flock flanked by a naturally colored tan sheep. Such wool colors are rare, so these flocks are prized by the local weavers.
Meeting the weavers of Toadlena
Wopila co-founders, sculptor Craig Bergsgaard and painter James Ayers, specialize in depicting imagery of people that defined the historic American West.
When the two men learned about the weavers of Toadlena, they knew that they had to see the place and meet the people for themselves.
Toadlena located in the eastern part of the Navajo reservation near Newcomb, New Mexico. The post has been operating for over 100 years and is currently run by Navajo weaving expert Mark Winter and his partner, Linda Larouche. The post serves as a mercantile, trading center, and communications hub for 150 or so weavers and their families that live in the area.
Bergsgaard and Ayers arranged a visit in April of 2010. Mark Winter, proprietor of the post since 1997, gave the artists a grand tour: they combed through the post’s museum, visited with weavers at their hogans, and toured the ancient Navajo and Anasazi ruins that dot the remote trading post region.
Navajo hogan near the Toadlena trading post.
“When I heard that Ayers and Bergsgaard were interested in creating art to honor the weavers and the traditional Navajo ways, I wanted to make sure they saw an accurate portrayal of the life lived out here,” Winter says.
When the two artists met the Toadlena weavers and their families and saw their techniques, they were floored. “Here is history, right before our eyes,” said Ayers. “Their weavings are sophisticated works of art which have harmony, balance, and rhythm.”
The artists were sobered, too, by the realization that the lifestyle is diminishing with each successive generation.
Winter explains: “Our best weavers may take anywhere between six months to two years to make just one weaving. Although we have about 45 families of passionate weavers in the area, with each generation, we have fewer people making the commitment to mastering weaving like their grandmothers did.”
Navajo weaving expert Mark Winter gives sculptor Craig Bergsgaard and painter James Ayers a lesson in textiles in the Toadlena museum on April 30, 2010.
Honoring Weavers with Canvas and Bronze is born
Over dinner in the trading post’s dining room, Winter, the artists, and Winter’s partner Linda Larouche chatted about what the show would portray.
“The idea is to create a show that will celebrate the commitment to art made by this unassuming group of people,” says Bergsgaard. “We want people to experience it for themselves so they can appreciate this unique chapter of American culture.”
The artists, founders of the philanthropic group Wopila Artist Guild, also plan to donate part of the proceeds from the sale of the show to help support the education of the newest generation of weavers at Toadlena.
“This is the perfect way for us to share our good fortune with a deserving group of young artists.” ~James Ayers
One heckuva party
On June 18, 2011, Bergsgaard and Ayers will unveil their creations directly to the residents of the Toadlena Trading Post area. All art lovers are invited to join in the festivities and meet the artists and the weavers.
“We throw a great party here every two years during our summer show,” says post manager Linda Larouche, “Actor Wes Studi’s band performs, we have tons of food, and all the weavers and local families come out to have a good time.”
Living weaving legend, Virginia Deal, demonstrates traditional wool carding.
To learn more
People interested in learning more about the show are invited to request your free show kit:
- A free show catalog
- An opening event invitation to the Toadlena show
- The Insider’s View of the Navajo Reservation vacation planner.“We have incredible scenery here once you get off of I-40,” says Winter.
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Check out what others are saying about this post...[...] Wopila’s first benefit show will be held in June, 2011 at the Toadlena Trading Post on the Navajo Reservation to help buy materials and supplies for young weavers. [...]
[...] historic Toadlena Trading Post to show preliminary versions of the pieces that will be shown in Honoring Weavers with Canvas and Bronze, their new benefit exhibit that will open June 18, [...]
[...] After a trip to the historic Toadlena Trading Post and meeting the post’s proprietors, Mark Winter and Linda Larouche, they developed the idea for Honoring The Weavers in Canvas and Bronze. [...]