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Author: Lori Reinhold

02 Mar

Posted at 06:00h in Artists, Collection, Culture, Featured Artist

Fil is one of our featured artists at Tsor’ovi Gallery., his artwork is very popular with locals and guests alike.

Filmer served in the U.S. Army Infantry from 1976 -1997 retiring with the rank of First Sergeant. Before retiring, Fil was a First Sergeant of an Infantry Rifle Company with the 35th Infantry Division. He also taught Military Science at UC Davis and SSU Sacramento. Upon retiring, he moved to Phoenix to work as a Federal Security Police Officer.

He later moved to Prescott AZ and enrolled part time at Yavapai College to earn an Associate Degree in graphic design. During his time as a student, Fil was also hired by the Art Department faculty to manage the Yavapai College art gallery for 3 years.

Today, Fil is an active artist, having won awards for his Hopi art works collect locally and around the country. “Everything I make has a story behind it. The best part of my art is telling people what it means. It is how I teach non-Hopi people about who we are int today’s world”.

Fil conducts presentations on Hopi history and about his artwork in the Prescott area. He also works seasonally for hte Boston Road Scholar Program as a guide leading tours through Hopi and Navajo lands. He is an advisor the the Board of Trustees for the Museum of Indigenous People, in Prescott and on the Board of Directors for Tis Art Gallery. He curates the “Journeys in Spirit” native art exhibition at the Tis Art Gallery ind is also very active in Vererans’ Affairs in Prescott and iwith the Hopi Tribe.

We are very honored to have Fil’s work at Tsor’ovi Gallery in Taawaki Inn!

26 Feb

Posted at 19:20h in Artists, Culture, Featured Artist

Codex is a Latin word meaning “book of laws”. It is generally known as an ancient manuscript that may contain calligraphy or drawings. This was invented by the ancient Romans and was used for official documents, literature, religious rituals, and storytelling.

Taawa in Hopi is the sun and is the life force for all living things. It is very important in the Hopi culture, and you will find the Taawa represented in jewelry, katsinas, paintings and other art media.

Gerald Dawavendewa is of the Hopi and Cherokee tribes. His interest in art earned him a bachelor’s degree in fine art from the University of Arizona. He has worked with the Arizona State Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, and the Smithsonian Institute and University of Arizona Lunar & Planetary Lab. In 1994 through a partnership between NASA and the U of A, Gerald was honored when he was invited to create artwork depicting the Hopi cosmos, a deerskin named Earth Bundle, which few aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour!

Recently Gerald created a 21′ mural for the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff AZ which tells the story of the Hopi astronomy.

Through his art, he works to educate the public about the culture of the Native peoples. Gerald has also authored and illustrated the children’s book, “The Butterfly Dance” and illustrated for another children’s book, “Rabbit Shoots the Sun”.

Tsor’ovi is honored to have Geralds work (prints, cards, mini canvases and Codex Taawa) in the gallery!