Institute for Native Americans, NAU

R.C. Gorman

2006 NAP Golf Tournament

Flagstaff, AZ - Commemorative show honors life of R.C. Gorman:
reprint from Inside NAU, Vol. 3 No. 46, Nov. 15, 2006

Northern Arizona University will celebrate the life and work of the "Picasso of American Indian art" with a month-long commemorative show honoring R.C. Gorman.

"R.C. Gorman: 1931-2005" [opened] with a reception from 7-9 p.m. Nov. 16 at the NAU Art Museum in Old Main on NAU's north campus. The exhibit will run through Dec. 16.

Featured works will be from the NAU-owned Gorman collection and borrowed pieces from collectors, family and friends, including Gorman's Navajo Gallery in Taos, N.M. Also on display are three paintings Gorman was working on at the time of his death and a wall of photographs from his life, including pictures of him with Andy Warhol, Elizabeth Taylor and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The menu at the opening reception will include recipes from Gorman's book Nudes and Foods IV: The Millennium Edition.

Rudolph Carl Gorman was born in Chinle on July 26, 1931. ''I was raised on the reservation, and we didn't have very much," Gorman once told the Los Angeles Times. ''The only thing I had to go on were books on artists, and I went through the whole gamut. My favorites were artists like Rembrandt and Michelangelo and Van Gogh. Up to Picasso."

Gorman, who died Nov. 3, 2005, is considered by many to be the premier Native American artist. It was the New York Times that called him the "Picasso of American Indian art." He first showed his work professionally in 1965 and three years later became the first Native American to run his own fine arts gallery. He has since earned an international following for his distinctive lithographs, bronzes, oil paintings, ceramics and silk screens that have been shown around the world.

"R.C. Gorman was a friend to Northern Arizona University for many, many years and we're honored and delighted to be a part of this celebration," said NAU President John Haeger. "I hope that all of Arizona has a chance to visit this show and share in Mr. Gorman's creativity."

Gorman attended NAU in the 1950s and was presented with an honorary doctorate of humane letters in1990. In 1999 he earned NAU's Centennial Alumni Award for Achievement.

Several of Gorman's works already are on display across the NAU campus, including the Code Talker in front of the Blome building. The bronze sculpture was dedicated in 1995 as part of NAU's centennial celebration and is modeled after the artist's father, Carl Gorman, who was one of the 32 original Navajo Code Talkers. Natoma II, Gorman's six-foot bronze of a Native American woman, greets visitors at the inner entrance of Old Main.

The NAU Art Museum [will be] open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. For gallery and show information, call (928) 523-3471.

6th Annual NAU Native American Programs
Golf Tournament

Flagstaff, AZ - Excellent results at NAU Tourney for Native Students: On a breezy chilly morning last Saturday 140 players from New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California gathered at the Flagstaff Continental Country Club to participate in the 6th Annual Northern Arizona University Native American Programs golf tournament.

"This is our 6th year of the tournament to raise funds for NAU native students and from every indication the turnout and results are excellent," said Laurence Gishey, director, Institute for Native Americans. Mr. Gishey announced there were more sponsors, more local businesses participated, more alumni involvement and the 6th Annual reception that featured a silent auction and sale of arts and crafts by local artists was a success.

At the reception the evening before the tournament, Harry W. Sloan, Jr. former board member of the NAU Alumni Association, spoke of the urgency of helping Native American students and the supportive response from the business community who to this day "have contributed over $100,000 and provided emergency financial assistance to 27 students and created four scholarships."

This year's major sponsors, Native Resource Development and Peabody Coal Company, were recognized for their dedication and support. Penny Emerson, NAU alumna and owner of Native Resource Development located in Gallup, New Mexico told the participants at the luncheon, "I know how difficult it is when students need financial help and there isn't any. I believe in the success of native students and I want to do whatever I can to help them succeed."

Kristie Bluehouse, the reigning Miss Indian NAU addressed the tournament players and sponsors at the reception, morning and luncheon program. She said "it is really a blessing to me that you support the tournament." "Without the money you raise it would be difficult for me to carry out my duty as Miss Indian NAU representing the Native American students and the university at many events," she added.

Miss Indian NAU Scholarship is one the four scholarships that has been created with proceeds from past tournaments. The others are the Miss Indian NAU Runnerup Scholarship, Virgil Masayesva Memorial Scholarship and Audrey Tsosie Memorial Scholarship. These scholarships, Mr. Gishey said "... will have funds available as long as the tournament is held each year."

The winners of the 6th Annual golf tournament went to: 1st place with net score 50.5 - Owen Doka, Art Smith, Shreve Tso, Stan Overturf; 2nd place with net score 51.2 - Ray Upshaw, Nick White, Henry Wagner, Kyle Ashley; 3rd place with net score 51.3 - Arkie Huskey, Thomas Charlie, Elmer Roanhorse, Paul Wanueka; 4th place with net score 51.3 - Kevin Quannie, Lloyd Keevama, Phil Harrison, Jimmy Harrison; and 5th place with net score 52.1 - Marcus Tulley, Peggy Nakai, Al Lewis, and Jeremy Huskey.

Navajo silversmith Gary Reeves from Gallup, New Mexico donated the1st place winning prize with each team member awarded a beautifully hand-crafted one-of-a-kind bolo tie. Each team member of second place winning team received an original painting donated by Hopi artist Kevin Quannie. Third and fifth place winners received gift certificates from the Continental Country Club and the fourth place winners received NAU jackets.