2002 Winners and Jurors' Comments
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Southwest Indian Art Award of Excellence ($1000) Description: Black Ogre Katsina doll: cottonwood root and acrylic paints. Jurors' Comments: (unanimous decision) Jurors agreed that the detailing and proportions within the design deserved special recognition. Other pieces that brought consideration included contemporary Navajo textile with strong diagonal elements and a small Navajo textile with all natural dyes and hand spun wool. The craftsmanship in both was felt to be exceptional.
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Best of Show ($1000) Description: Large scale pencil drawing on paper. Jurors' Comments: This piece drew strong response for the skill of its execution, its fine composition, Juror Gerard Tsonakwa noted its spiritual whimsy, and remarked that "This is the kind of piece I would like to have in my home." Juror Ron McGee also noted that the handling of light on the hands and feet set a time of day and was remarkable for its realism.
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Award of Excellence in Katsina Doll Carving ($500) Description: Katsina doll: cottonwood and wood stains. Jurors' Comments: (unanimous decision) A sense of motion and the fact that it appeared to be a one-piece carving were important features noted by Ron McGee. This form in one piece was particularly hard to do because of the shape of the wings. Melanie Yazzie called it "Exquisite!" and juror Gerard Tsonakwa noted that its detailing was visible from all angles, even from below.
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Award of Excellence in Pottery ($500) Description: Clay and natural pigments, traditionally fired. Jurors' Comments: This piece was noted for its technical difficulty in firing such a complex construction in an open pit traditional firing. Other comments were made on the piece's humor and the importance of its symbolism—a gathering.
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B.C. Waddell Memorial Purchase Award in Jewelry ($500) Description: Sterling silver overlay ranger buckle set. About this Award: Works winning purchase awards become part of the museum's permanent collections. They are chosen for their technique and artistry as well as for the way in which they compare and contrast with other items in our collections. Jurors' Comments: We liked the clean lines and traditional corn theme on this buckle set. It fills a vacant niche in our collection, that of ranger-style buckles to contrast with single Hopi overlay buckles which have been prizewinners in the past.
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Wilma Kaemlein Memorial Purchase Award - Curators Choice ($500) Description: Plainware pot with lid, made of natural clay using coiled technique. About this Award: Works winning purchase awards become part of the museum's permanent collections. They are chosen for their technique and artistry as well as for the way in which they compare and contrast with other items in our collections. Jurors' Comments: This vessel has been beautifully executed: it has an appealing shape, lustrous finish due to fine polishing, and thin vessel walls. It is made with traditional materials and techniques, with an innovative interpretation of an old vessel form. The vessel lid, in the shape of a squash stem, is a wonderful "cap" to the vessel.
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Award of Excellence in Clay ($400) Description: Hand coiled pot of native clays (including a two clay mix) with katsina designs, traditionally fired. Jurors' Comments: (unanimous decision) The multiple use of clays and a strong 3-D relief look all struck the jurors. Juror Gerard Tsonakwa also noted that its design sense was so strong that it was a look that could define a "style."
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Award of Excellence ($300) Description: Handmade weaving. Jurors' Comments: This piece won recognition for its composition and very high quality of execution.
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Award of Excellence in Basketry ($300) Description: Friendship dance design. Jurors' Comments: (unanimous decision) The technical difficulty was remarkable to all jurors. Its overall symmetry and the "tightness" of the design were also noted.
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Award of Excellence in Jewelry ($300) Description: Double concho belt: silver with coral cabechons, using stampwork and chisel techniques. Jurors' Comments: (unanimous decision) This was identified as the high art of traditional style by juror Gerard Tsonakwa. "No flaws!" was the comment from several jurors and all agreed that the choice and handling of stones was superb.
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Award of Excellence in Metalwork ($200) Description: 14 carat gold over silver. Jurors' Comments: (unanimous decision) High quality craftsmanship was evident to all jurors in this entry. The use of silver to set off the color of the gold complemented the use of the matte finish to highlight the polished gold metal. In all respects the workmanship was seen as "perfect" and a remark was made regarding the difficulty of soldering as evidenced in this piece.
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Award of Excellence ($100) Description: Two-figure katsina doll carving: Ogre and Clown. Jurors' Comments: This piece received recognition from all the jurors and was considered for several other awards. Its craftsmanship "required" recognition according to the jurors.
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Award of Excellence ($100) Description: Koshari clown hand carved in alabaster. Jurors' Comments: (unanimous decision) All the jurors were taken with its sense of irreverence. "Unlike more conventional pieces that are too often rendered with static solemnity."
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Judge's Choice Award - Gerard Tsonakwa ($100) Description: Handwoven rug. About this Award: This award is also called the "passion award". The Judge's Awards are designed to bring recognition to a work that each judge, independently, feels is outstanding. These pieces may have been overlooked due to the limited number of awards or because it falls outside other award categories. Jurors' Comments: Gerard chose this work for special recognition citing its uniform weave and pliability as well as the beauty of the colors and the innovative composition. He was particularly impressed with the difficulty of the designs done on the bias.
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Judge's Choice Award - Melanie Yazzie ($100) Description: Traditional handweave necklace (not loom-made) of white clam, melon shell, Kingman turquoise and jet. This weave has not been done since 1800. About this Award: This award is also called the "passion award". The Judge's Awards are designed to bring recognition to a work that each judge, independently, feels is outstanding. These pieces may have been overlooked due to the limited number of awards or because it falls outside other award categories. Jurors' Comments: Melanie admired this piece for the difficulty involved in its creation and its innovation. "The concept used is unique to this art form and I was amazed and surprised with the way in which the artist assembled this piece."
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Judge's Choice Award - Ron McGee ($100) Description: Bronze cast scupture. About this Award: This award is also called the "passion award". The Judge's Awards are designed to bring recognition to a work that each judge, independently, feels is outstanding. These pieces may have been overlooked due to the limited number of awards or because it falls outside other award categories.
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Award of Excellence ($50) Description: Triptych of colored pencil drawings. Jurors' Comments: The phrase "Like an altarpiece" was used to describe this work. It was noted for the success in setting a "tone" of solemnity. Details in the many zigzag "meanders" was mentioned for their exacting character. Juror Ron McGee said "I love the title interpretation of the harmony within the piece."
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Youth Award of Excellence ($100) Description: Pot with carved design with three kinds of slip. Stone polished. Jurors' Comments: Great contrast in color, texture with a balanced composition. Whimsical title adds to its charm and quality.
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Youth Award of Excellence ($100) Description: Pottery tile of native clay and natural pigments (mustard weed, iron oxide) applied with yucca brush. Stone polished and traditionally fired. Jurors' Comments: Good brush strokes, texture and varied tones of fired clay. Good composition on a small surface. Innovative!
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Youth Award of Excellence ($100) Description: Silver overlay. Jurors' Comments: Excellent composition. Nice polish too. The corn pendant was also well composed but the polish could improve.
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Youth Award of Excellence ($100) Description: Pottery stew bowl and coyote spoon of native clay and natural pigments (mustard weed, iron oxide) applied with yucca brush. Stone polished and traditionally fired with sheep dung. Jurors' Comments: An innovative piece, whimsical, charming. Although some work could be done on the brushstrokes in the painting, coiling and shaping, it is an excellent beginning for a set of dishes!
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Youth Award of Excellence ($100) Description: Pottery plate of native clay and natural pigments (mustard weed, iron oxide) applied with yucca brush. Stone polished and traditionally fired with sheep dung. Jurors' Comments: Interesting shape and contrast in the color of the fired pot. Perhaps more could be done in the use of color, texture and composition.
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Youth Award of Excellence ($100) Description: Mudhead canteen of native clay and natural pigments (mustard weed, iron oxide) applied with yucca brush. Stone polished and traditionally fired. Jurors' Comments: Its simplicity is its charm! Perhaps more work on the polishing could improve it. Expand! Make a series of Mudhead canteens!
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Youth Award of Excellence ($50) Description: Pottery plate of native clay and natural pigments (mustard weed, iron oxide) applied with yucca brush. Stone polished and traditionally fired with sheep dung. Jurors' Comments: Good idea—combination of Corn Maiden and Dragonfly! Composition is a bit off but centered. More control on the brush strokes would improve it even more.
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Youth Award of Excellence ($50) Description: Clay hand built mother carrying smallest child with 3 other children around her. Jurors' Comments: Whimsical, good brush strokes. Perhaps some improvement could be had in color contrast and use of texture.
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Youth Award of Excellence ($50) Description: Pottery jar with a village on the rim. Native clay and natural pigments (mustard weed, iron oxide) applied with yucca brush. Stone polished and traditionally fired with sheep dung. Jurors' Comments: Innovating with open lip of traditional pot adds interest. Perhaps some improvement could be had in the slip coverage—somewhat uneven. Coloration of the slip on the pot inside is visible.
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Youth Award of Excellence ($50) Description: Silver overlay pin/pendant. Jurors' Comments: Excellent overlay technique, nice polishing and an excellent choice of animal motif/design.
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