“Hopi Reeds”
by Sheryl Susunkewa, Hopi
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Description: Acrylic painting on canvas depicting the story told by the artist’s father about the arrival of Hopi/Anasazi and the formation of the Hopi Mesas.
About this Award: Art works winning acquisition 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.
Juror’s Comments:
Patrick Lyons and Diane Dittemore: This visually striking piece references a traditional Hopi cultural motif, reeds, and it manages to be culturally relevant while presenting the subject in abstract style. We are also pleased to honor a piece by Sheryl because she is carrying on a family tradition as the daughter of Manfred Susunkewa, a painter and katsina doll carver who participated in the Rockefeller Foundation’s Southwest Indian Art Project, a summer Indian youth art program at the University of Arizona in 1960 and 1961.