Hello this is the White House calling...

Hello!

So this is your brand new intern Kiran! My first full day at work during the beginning of the Zuni Festival was quite exciting, especially answering my first phone call. I picked up and I got...

"Hello this is Alex from the White House calling about your request for the President to visit your museum"

Can you believe that?! The White House called us, at MNA in Flagstaff of all places! They responded to our letter sent for government representatives to participate in museum events. The Arizona Humanities Council gave us a grant for speakers to come to the Museum and discuss various humanities topics. We wanted to make the government aware of our gratitude for this funding and of the wonderful events that are happening in our state. 

Unfortunately the President is unable to visit us, but sends his regards and is happy that the public is interested in his involvement.

The Zuni Festival was a great success with exciting events, such as the Nawetsa Family Dancers and their beautiful performances. This was a great opportunity to experience the Zuni culture and their heritage and connection to the land and spirit animals. Visitors to the festival not only experienced these performances, but talks about Zuni origin and the history behind Zuni art and aesthetics. While many fetish objects and gorgeous jewelery were for sale, one also learned a lot about the significance of these objects and the stones, especially turquoise, used in the jewelery. It was quite the exciting weekend filled with surprises and enjoyment all around.


Best,
Kiran!

The Zuni Festival is alive and kicking

Hello there!!

The 2012 Zuni festival is here. Today is the last day so if you were not here yesterday for all the fun come on over to experience the Zuni way of life!!!

So far today, we have had the pleasure of joining the Zuni Pueblo Band in raising the flag (see photo below, we'll upload some video soon too )! The Zuni Pueblo Band will be playing again (11:30, 2:30).


Today, at 10:30 and1:30, the Olla Pottery Maidens will be dancing with their beautiful pottery (sneak preview below)! There will also be shows by the Nawesta Family Dancers at 12:30 and 3:30.

Later on, there will be some wonderful presentations, such as "The Zuni Search for the Middle Place" by Curtis Quam (A story of Zuni Emergence and the Migration story) at 1:30, and "Zuni Art History" by Dan Simplicio at 2:45.

Feel free to bring the kids along, there is a Kids Creative Corner with arts and crafts as well as an exciting Puppet Show, "A Dragonfly's Tale", at 1:00.

We hope to see you all here!!

Love,
Courtney, Kiran, and Cynthia

Thursday before Zuni Festival!

Wow! What a great day with team Heritage Program! This is one of the busiest behind the scenes days and we did it all. Setting up for the juried competition, a huge 2 hour Sams club shop for all the food, making the table tents and name tags, rental chairs and tables delivered, getting ready for our artists and always thinking of better ways to focus on and teach about the Zuni, etc...... It was Kiran's first day, so the intern trio is complete and we are ready for the weekend. Tomorrow is Friday, the juried competition and then the opening of the Festival. It will be another big day, but after today, I am sure it will be fantastic! Thanks for all the grand help from our MNA staff and HP interns. See you tomorrow bright and early!

Zuni Festival 2011

Count down to Zuni Festival!

Hello everyone, Since Courtney's last post, we have had even more artists sign up! 5 today!
Thank you to all the Zuni artists, performers and presenters who make this Festival a reality. We do it all for you! Juried competition and Members Preview on Friday and doors open to the public 9 a.m. Saturday. Looking forward to a great weekend. See y'all here. Anne 

(This is Thelma Sheche. She has been part of the festivals since they began.
We can't have a Zuni Festival without her!)

Jaime Major Golightly Historic Courtyard

Raylan and Patty Edaakie – Jewelry

Chris Edaakie – Graphic Art

Lorandina Sheche – Traditional Fetish Carving Demonstration

Todd Westika – Contemporary Fetish Carving Demonstration

Archaeology Gallery

James Cheama – Jewelry

Ola Eriacho – Jewelry

Tony Eriacho – Native Art and Authenticity

Geology Gallery

Veronica Bowannie – Pottery 

Phyllis Coonsis – Jewelry 

Harlan Coonsis – Jewelry 

Waldo Davis – Fetish Carving 

Margia Simplicio– Beadwork 

Matthew Neha –Drawings 

Myron Panteah – Jewelry 

Troy Sice– Fetish Carving 

Raymond Tsalate – Fetish Carving 

Eldred and Marilyn Quam – Fetish Carving 

Lynn Quam – Fetish Carving 

Jimmy Yawakia – Fetish Carving 

Michelle Peina – Jewelry 

Jovanna Poblano – Jewelry 

Danielle Chattin – Jewelry   

Veronica Poblano – Jewelry 

Dylan Poblano – Jewelry 

Yolanda Laate and Loren Panteah – Jewelry 

Babbitt Gallery

Aric Chopito – Weaving 

Colin Coonsis – Jewelry 

Eldrick and Charlotte Seoutewa – Jewelry 

Noreen Simplicio– Pottery 

Kenneth Epaloose – Pottery 

Carlos Latte – Pottery 

Roxanne Seoutewa – Jewelry 

Mike Yatsayte – Fetish Carving

Reynold Lunasee – Fetish Carving

Hiram Peynetsa – Fetish Carving

Hi everyone!

Hi everyone!

It's Courtney here--the newest member of the MNA team bringing you the latest on the Cultural Festivals and museum life! It's a beautiful day in Flagstaff and summer just keeps getting better! The Zuni Festival is quickly approaching us and we are oh so excited!!! We're sure everyone out there is counting the days until the fun begins! To get you prepared for the festivities coming to town, we thought you might like a little heads up to see what's going on!

22nd Annual Zuni Festival of Arts and Culture
May 26–27, 2012
Whether its, fun, education, music, dancing or a combination, there's something exciting happening all day long!
Schedule is subject to change.  Final schedule is available at the festival.

Saturday and Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
All Day Activities	A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center Historic Zuni Films
	Kids Creative Corner
	Consignment Gallery from Zuni Pueblo Collecting Trips
10:00 a.m.	Zuni Pueblo Flag Raising Ceremony
10:30 a.m.	The Olla Pottery Maidens
11:00 a.m.	Jim Enote – “Zuni Museum Database and Collection System”
11:30 a.m.	Puppet Show, "A Dragonfly's Tale"
11:30 a.m.	The Zuni Pueblo Band
12:15 p.m.	Jim Enote –  “Zuni Agriculture and Ancient Agricultural Techniques”
12:30 p.m.	The Nawetsa Family Dancers
1:00 p.m.	Puppet Show, "A Dragonfly's Tale"
1:30 p.m.	Curtis Quam –  “The Zuni Search for the Middle Place”
1:30 p.m.	The Olla Pottery Maidens
2:30 p.m.	The Zuni Pueblo Band
2:45 p.m.	Dan Simplicio  –  “Zuni Art History”
3:30 p.m.	The Nawetsa Family Dancers

Artists	Todd Westika – Contemporary Fetish Carving Demonstration Lorandina Sheche – Traditional Fetish Carving Demonstration Raylan and Patty Edaakie – Jewelry James Cheama and Ola Eriacho – Jewelry Tony Eriacho – Native Art and Authenticity Veronica Bowannie – Pottery Phyllis Coonsis – Jewelry Harlan Coonsis – Jewelry Waldo Davis – Fetish Carving Verla Lasiloo Jim – Fetish Carving Margia Simplicio and Matthew Neha – Beadwork and Drawings Noreen Simplicio and Kenneth Epaloose – Pottery Myron Panteah – Jewelry Troy Sice– Fetish Carving Raymond Tsalate – Fetish Carving Carlos Latte – Pottery Roxanne Seoutewa – Jewelry Aric Chopito – Weaving
Sponsors	The 2012 Heritage Program is generously sponsored by the following: Arizona Humanities Council Arizona Commission on the Arts National Endowment for the Arts Flagstaff Cultural Partners City of Flagstaff B&B Revenues Coconino County Main Street Catering, Salsa Brava, Simply Delicious Fred Nackard Wholesale Beverage Company

We look forward to seeing you there!
Love,
Courtney

Lovin' the Zuni Land

Hey everyone,
We are back to work here at the A:shwi A:wan Museum today.  We are fully rested and are ready for all you Zuni artists to come on down and bring your artwork for the Zuni Festival.  We are having a great time here in Zuni meeting new people, learning new things about the Zuni Culture and seeing all the wonderful artworks that the hard working artists bring us.  Thank you all the artist who brought works of art in yesterday and we hope that many more artists come on in we will be here until 5pm today.  Today is our last day here even though we wish we could stay longer in Zuni so please don't miss us.
Love
Anne, Kathy and Cynthia

We Are in Zuni Land!

Hey Everyone,
We are in Zuni, New Mexico today on our collection trip for the Zuni Festival.  So this means all you Zuni artists make your way to the A:shwi A:wan Museum today between 10am-5pm and tomorrow Sunday between 10am-5pm.  We will be taking Artist Applications and items for judging and consignment both days.  You can also just stop by if you have any questions about the Zuni Festival at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff on May 26 and 27.  Today is a lovely day and we hope tomorrow will be too so please come on by the A:shwi A:wan Museum to see Anne, Kathy Dougherty and me.
Love,
Cynthia

A Wonderful Day at the Museum!!!

Hey Everyone,
Today we had a awesome turn out for the Kayenta and Monument Valley: 100 Years of Settlement and Trading in Indian Country.  It was a great lecture that had people discussing about the Wetherill family.  We also had a family member that was related to the Wetherills come to the lecture and give some information about the family.  Here is a picture from the event.

There was tons of interesting information and pictures shown of the Kayenta and Monument Valley areas. For everyone who came thank you! and for all that didn't you missed out.

On another note all you Zuni Artists we are going to be going on a collecting trip to the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center tomorrow Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13. Well will be there to have artists sign up for the Zuni festival and we will be collecting items for judging and sale during the Zuni Festival.

Love,
Cynthia

The Zuni Festival is Coming in Hot!!!

Hey Everyone,
Get excited! Make your plans! Do you know why you should do these things? BECAUSE the22nd Annual Zuni Festival happens at the end of the month! If you have never heard of this amazing festival your missing out.
 It is full of presentations, fine arts, music by the Zuni Pueblo Band, traditional dances by the Nawetsa Family Dancers and the Olla Potter Maidens, and tons of Zuni fun. 

This festival allows people to explore A:shiwi philosophy, beliefs, worldviews, values, and current issues on the Zuni Reservation. The Awesome Zuni Festival can happen because of the partnership with the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center in Zuni, New Mexico. This also means that all you Zuni Artists are running out of time to sent in your application so you better do them NOW because we would love to see you! Thank you to all the artist that have already sent in your applications. 

Here are all the great artist who have already submitted their applications:
Veronica Bowannie       Myron Panteah
Aric Chopito                Roxanne Seoutewa
Harlan M. Coonsis       Noreen Simplicio
Phylis Coonsis              Margia G. Simplicio
Waldo Davis                 Matthew E. Neha
Kenneth Epaloose        Verla Lasiloo Jim
Cameron Eustace         Carlos Laate

Hurry and send in your applications because you do not want to be the only one left out of all the fun!
 The Festival is Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27 9am to 5pm. Located at the Museum of Northern Arizona. So make your way to Flagstaff in May because you do not want to miss this!
Love,
Cynthia

All Photos are by Michelle Mountain