Jurors' Comments for All Awards

Best of Show ($1,000.00)
Courtesy of Desert Diamond Casino
"Bola Tie" by Andrew McCabe, Navajo

Description: 14K bola tie with Bisbee turquoise. Techniques: constructed, overlay, sand/tufa cast, stamped/filed.

About this Award: Awarded to the work whose quality showcases excellence in arts. Any medium is eligible.

Jurors' Comments:
A. Abeita: I chose this because of the preciseness of the design element; the hand manipulation of the design element is perfect. Stone setting and use of stones is of the quality that perpetuates Native American contemporary perfection.
J. Ware: It's a knockout piece! Superb technically, using traditional design with a mix of traditional and non-traditional materials. Flawless execution. The stone setting is superb and stone selection is excellent. Clear 'Best in Show!' It was a very tough decision because the jurors were split three different ways on the "Best of Show" category.
M. Polyestewa: (of the Runner Up) This is traditional Hopi pottery and it did not win, but I believe it displays "Best of Show" quality because everything is all hand-done; done by coil, the clay was hand-gathered, hand-coiled, all the designs are painted with authentic paint, not commercial paint, and the paint brush used is Yucca—you can tell because the lines are uneven and that means its authentic. The designs also have meaning; this is a water carrying pot/jug. For certain ceremonies, water is brought from 4 different directions (different springs); the water is brought in a different pot from those springs. The Bean Dance and Home Dance are two ceremonies where this kind of pot might be used so it has a ceremonial significance.

Southwest Indian Art Award of Excellence ($1,000.00)
Courtesy of Jim Click Automotive Team
"Butterflies - New Beginnings" by Ernest Benally, Navajo

Description: 18K hand fabricated choker with Sleeping Beauty turquoise. Cornroll inlay has other natural stones: sugilite, coral, and China Mountain turquoise. Techniques: constructed, inlay/channel.

About this Award: Awarded for work that exhibits the highest visual appeal and craftsmanship.

Jurors' Comments:
M. Polyestewa: It's a showpiece. I can see that! It's beautiful - it's all I can say! Workmanship is superb.
J. Ware: Technically perhaps the best piece in the show. It is beautiful stonework, inlay and superb gold setting.
A. Abeita: The use of materials is excellent quality; the measurements to the millimeter are of the best quality. Each stone that is hand-carved and set fits into the design and nature of the neckwear. The turquoise, butterflies and flowers all fit into a beautiful natural element. Impressive was the use of the hinges.

Larry Lominac Memorial Award of Excellence ($550.00)
Courtesy of Friends of Larry Lominac
"Owl" by Ethel Shields, Acoma Pueblo

Description: Large pottery owl with 4 baby owls on its wings. Natural clay and pigments, kiln-fired

About this Award: Awarded to recognize the use of humor and animal imagery (particularly bears) in any medium. Larry, who passed away in 2003, was the husband of ASM Staff member Karen Lominac. His lifelong love of animals inspired the creation of this award.

Jurors' Comments:
J. Ware: The storyteller owl is a hoot! I like the way it combines the traditional storyteller images from the Rio Grande with the traditional owl depictions on Acoma pottery and you can't help but laugh.
A. Abeita: This owl clay sculpture represents the animal or bird representation of "storyteller" and the bird with the humorous look on her face and babies on her wings represents storytelling time which I think is a really good concept—signifying a time of fun and humor.
M. Polyestewa: I picked the owl because it is a storyteller; there are 4 owls on the body and in Hopi we use owls for the deceased—since the person is gone/deceased, it represents a deceased person. When a person expires, they make prayer feathers from the owl feathers and put on them along with the eagle feathers. Owls have a lot of meaning because we believe our spirit arises on the third day like Christ so we take the feathers and make a prayer stick with owl and eagle feathers, and it means the person is gone. It's humorous because it's "storyteller" for a good thing, "for one and all."

Award of Excellence in Sculpture/Carving ($500.00)
Courtesy of Gallery West
"Echos of Time" by Caroline Carpio, Isleta Pueblo

Description: Bronze eagle sculpture with symbols of life; this piece represents strength, endurance and survival. Sits on a walnut base.

About this Award: Awarded for high quality in craftsmanship in sculpture or carving.

Jurors' Comments:
A. Abeita: I chose the bronze recognizing that it begins with clay; beautiful hand manipulation of clay in the element design of corn, overall structure, and theme about life. Overall the workmanship, color, and design are a beautiful combination.
J. Ware: I was struck by the bringing together of symbols of corn for sustenance, the eagle for power, and curing. Technically it's excellent.
M. Polyestewa: The bronze eagle represents the highest of the bird kingdom. Corn means life to our people and that is important for survival. Overall it's a very unique piece because of the way it's made and the representation of it.

Award of Excellence in Pottery ($500.00)
Courtesy of Kaibab Shops
"Traditional Hopi Pottery" by Karen Kahe Charley, Hopi

Description: Large canteen with traditional Hopi designs on top. Constructed using coil method and polished with river stones. Paint is boiled tansy mustard plant and black hematite applied with yucca brushes. Traditionally fired with sheep dung.

About this Award: Awarded to work that shows the best quality in craftsmanship and use of ceramic material. All pottery is eligible.

Jurors' Comments:
M. Polyestewa: This is a "water jug" and I chose that because everything about it is authentic; there are no commercial products used, it is hand-painted and it has a lot of meaning, A yucca paint brush (made of yucca) was used and the pot was not kiln fired—you can see the burn marks and they represent clouds. The clouds carry the water from the four directions; purification for longevity and things to grow healthy—when we drink the water we are healthy, so this pot has a lot of meaning and that's why I chose the water jug.
J. Ware: The Hopi-Tewa canteen is a traditional form with Sikiyatki-revival style imagery and is a superb example of a very old form. Wonderfully executed and the whole design comes together as a beautiful work of art.
A. Abeita: The canteen design pot has great confirmation in recognizing that the natural brush stroke was utilized with yucca and it adds an extra beautiful element to the line design.

Award of Excellence in Katsina Doll Carving ($500.00)
Courtesy of Grey Dog Trading Co.
"Heehe Warrior Maiden" by Keith Torres, Hopi

Description: Wood carving, hand carved from cottonwood and stained.

About this Award: Awarded to the Katsina carving that best portrays adherence to traditional representation and use of materials.

Jurors' Comments:
J. Ware: I think it's a superb execution from a single piece of cottonwood root. The painting and the carving are as good as any I've seen.
M. Polyestewa: I picked this one because its carved out of one piece of cottonwood and that Katchina is considered the mother of all Katchinas - she is the warrior maiden. She was the only one available to fight the enemy when he arrived and her mother was fixing her hair but didn't finish because she had to defend the family, so she went out to fight and that is how she gets her name of warrior maiden and is shown with her hair half up and down. At ceremonial time she goes out and gathers the Katchinas from the homes and the Kivas that are underground.
A. Abeita: This carving represents beautiful imagery of the Hopi tradition and the hand workmanship is equally as beautiful.

Award of Excellence in Painting or Drawing ($500.00)
Courtesy of Arch & Laura Brown
"Wild Horses at Balaki Mesa" by Randy Keedah, Navajo

Description: Oil painting. Wild horses by a water hole on Navajo reservation.

About this Award: Awarded for high quality in craftsmanship in painting or drawing.

Jurors' Comments:
A. Abeita: Along with my colleagues we had first assumed this image was a photograph until we looked at it closer and that's when we realized how beautiful the work was, to that end it was a unanimous decision that this piece meets the criteria for this award.
M. Polyestewa: The reason why I voted for it is because at first I thought it was an enlarged photocopy of a picture and I went back several times to check. Its really unique how the painting was done. The workmanship on it is great. It deserves the award because of the way the water and shadows of the animals is really special; we had to look closely to make sure it wasn't a photocopy.
J. Ware: Photographic realism—excellent execution, muddy water is depicted perfectly...superb rendition of Navajo country.

Dawn Cromwell Legacy Award of Excellence ($500.00)
Courtesy of Dawn Cromwell
"Storage Jar" by Edna Romero, Santa Clara Pueblo

Description: Large black micaceous jar made of micaceous clay only and traditionally fired.

About this Award: This award recognizes commitment to excellence among returning artists to SWIAF. Any medium is eligible.

Jurors' Comments:
J. Ware: Beautifully executed micaceous pot from Santa Clara. A tradition that began in the northern Tiwa and is now spreading throughout the Rio Grande.
M. Polyestewa: As soon as I came into the room, for some reason this pot just caught my eye—the workmanship, the way it's made—it's plain but it does have a lot of meaning because it is a storage pot for flour, seeds, etc. The workmanship is just superb. I know it's all hand-coiled, handmade, and baked the traditional way.
A. Abeita: The beautiful micaceous pot has excellent balance and hand-eye coordination applied.

B.C Waddell Memorial Purchase Award in Jewelry ($500.00)
Courtesy of Waddell Trading
"Peruvian Blue Opal Bola Tie" by L. Bruce Hodgins, Navajo

Description: Contemporary 3-dimensional bola tie. Technique: contructed.

About this Award: Art 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:
D. Dittemore & S. Griset: Because we're looking at this with the perspective of producing the "Set in Stone" exhibit, we chose this piece because it presented an exotic material in a traditional style bola.

Award of Excellence in Two-Dimensional Art ($400.00)
Courtesy of Pam & Roland Shack
"Gathering of the Holy Women" by Michelle Tsosie Sisneros, Santa Clara Pueblo

Description: Acrylic painting on black rag paper.

About this Award: Awarded to work that shows top quality in two-dimensional media. Painting, drawing and photography are eligible.

Jurors' Comments:
A. Abeita: In this painting the traditional values are represented with a unique distinctive look. This artist portrays the beauty of Pueblo life.
M. Polyestewa: I picked the same one, too, because of the way its done—the artist did a great job and it has a lot of meanings; it shows the corn maidens carrying their gifts, like fruits, things we all value because of/for longevity of life; what you eat makes you strong and healthy.
J. Ware: (of the Runner Up - 3-piece monotype on paper called "Essence of Navajo") Beautiful images, superbly combined. Very strong individual images and combined techniques.

Award of Excellence in Clay ($400.00)
Courtesy of Casas Adobes Barber Shop
"Enclosed Pot - Etched" by Barbara Gonzales, San Ildefonso Pueblo/Tewa

Description: Black etched pottery with inlaid coral, turquoise and silver beads. This piece was traditionally fired.

About this Award: Awarded for high quality in craftsmanship and vision in the use of clay. All pottery and figurative clay are eligible.

Jurors' Comments:
M. Polyestewa: It just caught my eye the very first time I walked in; it is authentically done. It uses turquoise and coral to bring out the butterfly designs which represents beauty and life.
A. Abeita: This beautiful pot has wonderful symmetry and beautiful design concept.
J. Ware: (of the Runner Up - Navaho Cooking Jar) Wonderful combination of a traditional jar form with corn handles. It has superb symmetry and execution throughout. A unique piece that deserves to be recognized.

Award of Excellence in Jewelry ($300.00)
Courtesy of Morning Star Traders, Inc.
"Silver Concha Belt" by Al Joe, Navajo

Description: Belt with anticlastic raised border (saddle-shaped) shadowbox conchas made of silver and Caracol Lake turquoise. Techniques: constructed, stamped/filed.

About this Award: Awarded for high quality in craftsmanship in jewelry and silversmithing.

Jurors' Comments:
J. Ware: Superb cast silver shadowbox concha belt, notable for the quality of the casting and finish work, stone setting, and selection of stones. A real work of art.
A. Abeita: Beautiful workmanship, excellent consistency and colorful use of stones.
M. Polyestewa: The craftsmanship is very unique and the stones the way they are set and the way its made is really unique and the ends of them are different from the ones I have seen. Overall it's outstanding!

Award of Excellence in Basketry ($300.00)
Courtesy of Silverbell Trading
"Squash Blossom" by Esther Jaimes, Tohono O'odham

Description: Basket of Devil's Claw, beargrass and yucca.

About this Award: Awarded for high quality in craftsmanship in basket arts.

Jurors' Comments:
A. Abeita: This basket has a beautiful use of materials and color, has good symmetry and consistency in both weaving and the pattern.
M. Polyestewa: It caught my eye because it's a four-directional squash blossom design and also what it's made from is all authentic. It is made from Devil's Claw. The artist gathered the Devil's Claw him/herself. Its very beautiful and it means a lot to the Tohono O'odham people and to the Hopi people.
J. Ware: Excellent Tohono O'odham Devil's Claw, yucca, and beargrass coiled basket. It has perfect symmetry and execution. The materials are dominated by Devil's Claw which is unusual today.

Award of Excellence in Textiles or Weavings ($300.00)
Courtesy of Cele Peterson's
"Hopi Coil Basket" by Alberta Selina, Hopi

Description: Crow Mother basket. Yucca plant was used for natural white fibers. The yellow-red comes from Hopi tea and black is from commercial dye.

About this Award: Awarded to acknowledge excellence in craftsmanship in all forms of weaving. Baskets, rugs and other fiber arts are eligible.

Jurors' Comments:
M. Polyestewa: It's really tightly woven and the colors are all natural, no dyes in it, and its very neat and tightly woven. It's got the Crow Mother Katchina, which really means a lot. I chose it because of how well it's made.
A. Abeita: Although it perhaps was not made to hold water, the weaving is tight enough to do so and it is consistently woven. It shows extra effort of holding together both quality and imagery.
J. Ware: (of the Runner Up) This is a superb Crystal design Navajo rug with the combination of natural and commercial dyed wool.

Award of Excellence in Figurative Clay ($300.00)
Courtesy of Bahti Indian Arts
"Winter and Summer Owls" by Merton L. Sisneros, Santa Clara Pueblo

Description: A pair of black pottery figures. Made of traditional clay and traditionally fired.

About this Award: Awarded to acknowledge excellence in non-vessel ceramics.

Jurors' Comments:
A. Abeita: These pieces are unique, simple, with great workmanship.
M. Polyestewa: It's authentic, from Santa Clara, everything done by hand and fired the traditional way. They are owls and it's a figurative piece and it's hard work to do when it's done authentically.
J. Ware: I liked the highly stylized design.

ASM Director's Choice Award of Excellence ($300.00)
Courtesy of Arizona State Museum
"Apache Mountain Spirit" by Upton Ethelbah, Santa Clara Pueblo/White Mountain Apache

Description: Bronze and hand carved Italian Marble using power tools, hammer and chisel, sandpaper and files. 32" h x 18" w x 12" d.

About this Award: Awarded to acknowledge excellence in quality, this award is selected by the ASM Director. Any medium is eligible.

Jurors' Comments:
H. Lomawaima: This piece exhibits all aspects of "Ga' an"—directional colors, crescent moon, headdress with water bird and dance wands. The piece connotes a sense of strength and authority. From every angle and vantage point, "Apache Mountain Spirit" has great presence, just like the "Ga' an."

Award of Excellence in Traditional Carving ($250.00)
Courtesy of Karen & Stephen Strom
"Pima Woman" by Phillip C. Robles, Pima - Gila River Indian Community

Description: Carving of a Pima woman searching for cactus fruit. Hand carved of pecan root and saguaro rib. A wood burner was used for details.

About this Award: Awarded for carving that adheres most to cultural content, other than a Katsina doll.

Jurors' Comments:
M. Polyestewa: Very unusual, it's a Pima carving and I've been picking fruit with them for many years and this piece is made from saguaro ribs (cactus). I chose it because for these people a long time ago it was their survival food. They use it to make preserves, syrups, and drinks and dry them out for winter use to survive.
A. Abeita: Unique choice of materials and the imagery represents a beautiful cultural concept.
J. Ware: We had very few sculptural pieces to choose from in this category and I hope this award encourages other sculptors to enter their pieces in the future.

Wilma Kaemlein Memorial Purchase Award ($250.00)
Courtesy of Arizona State Museum
"Kashari Clown" by Clarence Lee, Navajo

Description: Silver, copper, brass and turquoise. Techniques: contructed, stamped/filed

Jurors' Comments:
D. Dittemore & S. Griset: Wilma would have enjoyed the whimsy of this piece.

Michael Daley Award of Excellence in Sculpture or Carving ($250.00)
Courtesy of Origins Society
"Cowboy's Fantasy" by Ed Yazzie, Navajo

Description: Sculpture of a grayish stallion with black mane. Original stone sculpture was cast in bronze with patina (2/30). The piece stands on a revolving hardwood base.

About this Award: Awarded to recognize high quality in carving of any style, in any medium.

Jurors' Comments:
J. Ware: This is a traditional bronze sculpture of a horse head with an exquisite patina, horsehair, and excellent workmanship throughout.
A. Abeita: Beautiful workmanship and excellent choice of patina!
M. Polyestewa: I love horses, so the minute I came in I noticed its mane. Its just beautiful, gorgeous, and outstanding—superb craftsmanship.

Gordon Carle Award of Excellence in Tribal Arts ($250.00)
Courtesy of Southwestern University & Global College
"Flight of the Hummingbird" by Monty Claw, Navajo

Description: Macaw and Argus Pheasant Peyote fan. Feathers include Catalina Macaw, Blue and Gold Macaw and Argus Pheasant. Other components include a brass fan connector, white commercial buckskin, #13 cut beads, glass beads and dyed turkey feathers.

About this Award: Awarded to recognize high quality in diverse media that do not fit into conventional categories.

Jurors' Comments:
A. Abeita: It's a beautiful traditional design with great color, both in beadwork and feather choices, with the beadwork being exceptional.
J. Ware: Exquisite beadwork, feather and leather craft in a traditional Peyote feather fan.
M. Polyestewa: (of the Runner Up) I chose the Dye Chart because there is a lot of work involved in gathering up the materials to make the natural dyes and the little rug is all hand woven. With the utilization of the dyed yarn, it's really neat because everyone wants to know what the natural dyes are (come from), and this person did a great job of collecting the materials in making the dyes.

Judge's Choice Award ($200.00)
Courtesy of Dorothy Finley
"Ancient Water Serpent" by Delbridge Honanie, Hopi

Description: Cottonwood root carving using the natural wood shape with painted designs.

About this Award: This award is also called the "passion award". Each juror selects one piece after all other awards have been decided. The Judge's Choice Awards are designed to bring recognition to a work that each juror, independently, feels is outstanding. These pieces may have been overlooked due to the limited number of awards or because they fell outside other award categories.

Juror's Comments:
M. Polyestewa: I chose this because it's got a lot of meaning; it is an old-fashioned ancient water serpent. It also represents the whole universe, not just Hopi people. It is uniquely done from one piece of wood. I chose this because the piece meets the criteria, not because I'm Hopi.

Judge's Choice Award ($200.00)
Courtesy of Ralph & Ingeborg Silberschlag
"Deer Family" by David Snooks, Washoe

Description: hand-painted beaded gourd. Glass beads, porcelain, abalone, bone, and dyed leather are sewn on in bands. The design is a geometric basket design.

Juror's Comments:
A. Abeita: A unique and beautiful way to create a gourd pot; the beadwork and imagery have a unique contemporary flare. I like it!

Judge's Choice Award ($200.00)
Courtesy of Ralph & Ingeborg Silberschlag
"Diné Ceremonial Cooking Jar" by Damon H. Tso, Jr., Navajo

Description: Early 20th centruy cooking jar shape with corn handles, Artist's own ke' design. Made of red commercial clay, hand coiled. Black paint is from bee plant and mineral rocks. Corn shaped handles have white native clay slip. Finished with Pino Pine pitch, the surface is burnished with stone inside and out. Kiln fired.

Juror's Comments:
J. Ware: It's a traditional cooking jar shape with unusual corn handles, pinon-pitched burnished surface, superbly executed. A real winner!

Staff Purchase Award ($300.00)
Courtesy of Arizona State Museum Staff
"Face Pot" by Wanda Aragon, Acoma Pueblo

Description: Traditional Acoma style pot in the shape of a face with earrings. Handmade from native clay and hand-painted with native clays and paints collected on the reservation. Kiln fired.

Jurors' Comments:
D. Dittemore & S. Griset: We chose this pot to put a "new face" on our contemporary pottery collection as we move it to its new digs. (The ASM pottery collection will be moved to a new climate-controlled, viewable storage vault beginning in late 2006.)

Youth Best of Show ($300.00)
Courtesy of Orca Bay Gallery
"Grandfather" by Hope Etsitty, Navajo

Description: Hand stamped, Sterling silver horned toad necklace. The chain is handmade of sheet and round wire. The pendant is inlaid with red spiney oyster shell. Ants on the toad's back are made with bead wire and round wire.

About this Award: Awarded for youth work that exhibits the highest visual appeal and craftsmanship. Artists of age 17 and under are eligible.

Juror's Comments:
D. Cromwell: Craftsmanship is of highest quality with clever and innovative design.

Youth Purchase Award ($150.00)
Courtesy of AZ Archaeological and Historical Society
"Green Mountains" by Danielle Suazo, Taos Pueblo/Navajo

Description: Landscape painting of nothern New Mexico. Acrylic on cotton canvas.

Jurors' Comments:
D. Dittemore & S. Griset: Excellent color palette with a pleasing landscape composition.

Youth Award of Excellence ($100.00)
Courtesy of Jean Bassett
"Wildlife" by Kaleb Yazzie, Navajo

Description: White clay wheel thrown pottery with blue lines